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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0BMC Medical Imaging

Dental pulp stones as an independent predictor for extracranial carotid artery calcification: a cross-sectional cone-beam computed tomography analysis

  • Manolya Ilhanli1
  • Aida Kurbanova2
  • Tolga Han Edebal3
  • Seçil Aksoy2
  • Umut Aksoy4
  • Kaan Orhan5,6,7
7 affiliations
  1. 1Multidiciplinary Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Türkiye
  2. 2Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Near East University, Mersin 10, Türkiye
  3. 3Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Harran University, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
  4. 4Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Near East University, Mersin 10, Türkiye
  5. 5Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
  6. 6Department of Oral Radiology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong China
  7. 7Medical Design Application and Research Center (MEDITAM), Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
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Abstract

Background: Vascular calcification is a key indicator of cardiovascular risk, and dental imaging allows its visualization. Dental pulp calcifications (pulp stones) have been suggested as markers of systemic mineralization. This study aimed to assess the association between pulp stones and extracranial carotid artery calcification (ECAC) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, CBCT scans of 250 adults (124 men, 126 women; aged 20–81 years) from a university dental radiology department were evaluated. ECAC were bilaterally graded (0–4), and pulp stones were recorded as present or absent. Images were standardized to the Frankfurt horizontal plane and examined by a blinded observer. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics, while Chi-square and regression analyses explored associations.

Results: ECAC was detected in 53 participants (21.2%), with prevalence increasing with age (p ≤ 0.008). Women showed higher rates than men (27.0% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.036). Pulp stones were more frequent in women (41.3% vs. 20.2%, p < 0.001) and older individuals (p = 0.001). Multivariable analysis indicated pulp stones as an independent predictor of ECAC (OR = 5.94; 95% CI: 2.97–11.85, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Pulp stones detected on CBCT were significantly associated with ECAC, suggesting their potential as adjunctive indicators of cardiovascular risk.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{ilhanli2026dental,
  title = {{Dental pulp stones as an independent predictor for extracranial carotid artery calcification: a cross-sectional cone-beam computed tomography analysis}},
  author = {Manolya Ilhanli and Aida Kurbanova and Tolga Han Edebal and Seçil Aksoy and Umut Aksoy and Kaan Orhan},
  journal = {BMC Medical Imaging},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1186/s12880-026-02676-7},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-026-02676-7},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Dental pulp stones as an independent predictor for extracranial carotid artery calcification: a cross-sectional cone-beam computed tomography analysis
AU  - Manolya Ilhanli
AU  - Aida Kurbanova
AU  - Tolga Han Edebal
AU  - Seçil Aksoy
AU  - Umut Aksoy
AU  - Kaan Orhan
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/10
JO  - BMC Medical Imaging
DO  - 10.1186/s12880-026-02676-7
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-026-02676-7
AB  - Background: Vascular calcification is a key indicator of cardiovascular risk, and dental imaging allows its visualization. Dental pulp calcifications (pulp stones) have been suggested as markers of systemic mineralization. This study aimed to assess the association between pulp stones and extracranial carotid artery calcification (ECAC) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).  Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, CBCT scans of 250 adults (124 men, 126 women; aged 20–81 years) from a university dental radiology department were evaluated. ECAC were bilaterally graded (0–4), and pulp stones were recorded as present or absent. Images were standardized to the Frankfurt horizontal plane and examined by a blinded observer. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics, while Chi-square and regression analyses explored associations.  Results: ECAC was detected in 53 participants (21.2%), with prevalence increasing with age (p ≤ 0.008). Women showed higher rates than men (27.0% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.036). Pulp stones were more frequent in women (41.3% vs. 20.2%, p < 0.001) and older individuals (p = 0.001). Multivariable analysis indicated pulp stones as an independent predictor of ECAC (OR = 5.94; 95% CI: 2.97–11.85, p < 0.001).  Conclusions: Pulp stones detected on CBCT were significantly associated with ECAC, suggesting their potential as adjunctive indicators of cardiovascular risk.
SN  - 1471-2342
ER  -