Association between Coronary Artery Sclerosis and Dental Pulp Calcification in Patients Attending Sari Touba Clinic, 2019

Background and purpose: Coronary artery disease is a major cause of mortality, morbidity, and disability in society and patients incur high expenditure on treatment. Pulp stones are ectopic calcifications of the pulp vessel walls, so, they can have similar pathogenesis as those of other organs and coronary atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between coronary artery sclerosis and dental pulp calcification in panoramic dental radiography. Materials and methods: This case-control study, was performed in 94 patients aged 30-65 years old attending Sari Touba Clinic for coronary angiography. They were divided into two groups: case group with significant angiography results and control group with normal angiography results. Panoramic dental radiographs were obtained and examined for the presence of pulp stone. Data were analyzed in SPSS V16 using Chi-square test. Results: Findings showed a significant association between coronary artery sclerosis and presence of pulp stone (P<0.05). Conclusion: Coronary artery sclerosis and dental pulp calcification were found to be significantly associated. Dental radiography could be an early identification method for coronary artery disease.