Revista Cubana de Estomatología (Sep 2017)
Pulp and periapical diseases in permanent dental structures of patients aged six to fourteen years
Abstract
Introduction: when permanent dental structures have young, immature pulps, they are bigger and their root canal walls are very thin. If they are affected by some pulp or periapical disease, damage is caused to pulp integrity and consequently to root development as well. Objective: identify pulp and periapical diseases in permanent dental structures of patients aged six to fourteen years, and their degree of development according to Patterson's classification. Methods: a cross-sectional observational descriptive study was conducted. Of the 357 children attending the Social Service University Unit at the Autonomous University of Yucatán, Mexico, in the year 2013, for pulp or periapical diseases, 56 presented them in immature permanent dental structures. The following inclusion criteria were applied: age, dental structure, pulp and periapical diseases, and Patterson's classification, to radiographically observe the degree of root development. Parents provided their informed consent in writing, and answered a questionnaire with personal details of the child. Children were asked about the antecedents of their pain, and underwent tests and clinical and radiographic examination. Chi-square tests were used to sort out the patients according to: 1) dental structure, 2) age, 3) Patterson's classification, 4) pulp and periapical disease. Results: 57 % of the sample were girls and 43 % were boys. 15.69% had pulp and/or periapical disease in permanent dental structures, with a higher prevalence of Patterson's stages 1, 2 and 3. The dental structure affected varied significantly (X2= 22.6429; p= 0.0004; g.l.= 5). The proportion of patients with pulp or periapical disease varied significantly with age (X2= 30.75; p< 0.0001; g.l.= 6). The proportion of patients with some permanent dental structure affected varied significantly according to Patterson's classification (X2= 7.75; p= 0.0208; g.l.= 2). Significant statistical differences were found between the types of pulp diseases (X2= 7.2; p= 0.0273; g.l.= 2), not between the types of periapical diseases (X2= 1.4615; p=0.4815; g.l.= 2). Conclusions: incidence of pulp diseases is higher than that of periapical diseases in very young children. These affect permanent dental structures with incomplete root development, jeopardizing tooth preservation in adult age and severely affecting the stomatognathic system with a potential for causing malocclusion at an early age.
