Endodontic treatment of a hypertaurodontic mandibular left second molar in a patient with many taurodonts combined with multiple pulp stones

Distribution and influencing factors of pulp stones based on CBCT: a retrospective observational study from southwest China

BACKGROUND

Pulp stones are a type of pulp calcification, the presence of which tends to hinder endodontic treatment. Thus, this retrospective study aimed to analyze the distribution of pulp stones in the population in southwest China and identify the influencing factors.

MATERIALS

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 5066 teeth of 200 patients (91 males and 109 females) aged 16-45 years were evaluated. Pulp stones were marked as either present or absent when distinct radiopaque masses were found in the pulp cavity, then evaluated the occurrence of pulp stones with regard to tooth type, sex, age group, and contact it with tooth status. The Pearson chi-square test and nonparametric test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Pulp stones were detected in 49.0% of patients and 7.4% of teeth, respectively. The incidence in females was 1.9 times higher than in males (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.3, p = 0.001). Pulp stones were most prevalent in patients 36-45 years of age. Furthermore, in the age range of 16-45 years, the likelihood of finding pulp stones increased 1.1 times per year with age (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.0-1.1, p = 0.032). A higher incidence of pulp stones was observed in the maxilla and molars. Of the 5066 teeth studied, pulp stones were more common in non-intact teeth.

CONCLUSION

Nearly half of the population in southwest China had pulp stones. Pulp stones were found significantly more often in females, maxilla, and non-intact teeth, and their frequency increased with age. For dentists, understanding the distribution of pulp stones is crucial for the proper design of root canal treatment (RCT).

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University (certificate number: 20220818001).

Endodontic management of taurodontic teeth: A case series

This paper illustrated successful endodontic non-surgical (re)treatments of molars and premolar with different taurodontic classifications and accompanied anomalies like C-shape and extra root canals in otherwise healthy patients. Magnification with illumination besides active irrigation with NaOCl were the most helpful items in managing these cases.

Prevalence of taurodontism in individuals in Northwest China determined by cone-beam computed tomography images

Objective

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of taurodontism in a group of adult dental patients in Northwest China with the aid of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods

This study used Shifman and Chanannel's criteria to statistically analyze the prevalence of taurodontism in the premolars and molars of the Chinese population. CBCT images of 5488 teeth from 580 subjects of Chinese origin were evaluated. The measured data were statistically analyzed and the chi-square test was also used to compare the prevalence of taurodontism between male and female subjects and between the upper and lower jaws (P < 0.05).

Results

Taurodontism was detected in 169 patients, with a prevalence of 29.14%, of which 27.24% were males and 30.65% were females. The chi-square test showed that there was no significant difference between males and females (P > 0.05). Taurodontism was found in 7.45% of all teeth examined. Taurodonts were significantly more common in the maxilla (9.06%) than in the mandible (5.15%) (P < 0.001), and the maxillary second molar (25.18%) was the most common tooth affected. According to morphology, hypotaurodonts were the most common (60.39%) among taurodontic teeth.

Conclusions

Taurodontism was relatively common in the Chinese population and was almost equally distributed between males and females. The maxillary second molar was the most common tooth of all taurodonts measured, and taurodonts were significantly more common in the maxilla than in the mandible. Hypotaurodontism was the most common form of taurodontism. Our study provides a reference for dental deformities in the Chinese population and the diagnosis and treatment of taurodontism.

Comparison of root and canal anatomy of taurodont and normal molar teeth: A retrospective cone-beam computed tomography study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of taurodontism in maxillary and mandibular molar teeth using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to compare the differences in root and canal morphologies between taurodont and nontaurodont molars.

METHODS

CBCT images of 1200 patients were analysed. First, the frequency of taurodontism in maxillary and mandibular molar teeth was calculated. The Shifman and Chanannel taurodontic index was used to diagnose taurodontic teeth. Subsequently, the root and canal morphologies were compared with those of 250 normal teeth randomly selected from each tooth group. P < 0.05 values were considered significant in statistical tests. The chi-square test was used for differences according to sex, age and tooth position. Z-test was used for comparing percentages between independent groups.

RESULTS

The occurrence rate of taurodontism was 7.78 % and 12.72 % in maxillary first and second molar teeth, respectively, and 1.99 % and 2.41 % in mandibular first and second molar teeth, respectively. Women had more taurodont teeth than men. The frequency of root fusion was greater in taurodont maxillary molars. The percentage of C-shaped roots in taurodont mandibular second molars was significantly higher than in cynodonts (19.15 % and 8.4 %, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Taurodont teeth show wide variations in root and canal morphology. The degree of change in morphology is associated with the severity of taurodontism.

PRICE 2020 guidelines for reporting case reports in Endodontics: explanation and elaboration

Case reports play a key role in showcasing new, unusual or rare disease(s), and the impact of newer therapeutic approaches or interventions. The Preferred Reporting Items for Case reports in Endodontics (PRICE) 2020 guidelines are being introduced exclusively for Endodontics by adapting and integrating the CAse REport (CARE) guidelines and Clinical and Laboratory Images in Publications principles. The PRICE 2020 guidelines have been developed to help authors improve the completeness, accuracy and transparency of case reports in Endodontics and thus enhance the standard of manuscripts submitted for publication. The aim of this document is to provide a comprehensive explanation for each item in the PRICE 2020 checklist along with examples from the literature that demonstrate compliance with these guidelines. This information will highlight the importance of each item and provide practical examples to help authors understand the necessity of providing comprehensive information when preparing case reports. A link to this PRICE 2020 explanation and elaboration document is available on the Preferred Reporting Items for study Designs in Endodontology website at http://www.pride-endodonticguidelines.org.