Pulp Stone
A calcified mass found within the pulp chamber or root canal, composed of mineralised tissue that may impede access to the canal orifice.
Full Definition
Pulp stones (also called denticles) are discrete calcified bodies occurring within the dental pulp space, either attached to the dentinal wall or free within the pulp tissue. They are classified as true (containing dentinal tubules) or false (dystrophic calcification without tubular structure). For the endodontic editor, pulp stones are clinically significant because they complicate access cavity preparation and can obscure canal orifices on radiographs. They are commonly reported in the access cavity preparation section of case reports. The preferred spelling is two words without a hyphen; 'denticle' is an acceptable synonym in histological contexts.
Usage
Usage note: Two words, no hyphen. 'Denticle' is acceptable in histopathology reports but may be unfamiliar to general dental readers; define on first use in mixed-audience documents.
In Context
- "Negotiation of the access cavity was complicated by a large pulp stone occupying the entire pulp chamber floor." — Clinical case report
- "The radiographic report should note the presence of pulp stones as they affect the difficulty classification of the procedure." — Pre-operative assessment form