Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Dental pulp communicates with the periodontium through apical, lateral, or accessory canals. There is general consensus that pulpal disease can initiate or perpetuate periodontal disease through the apical foramen. Hence: the present study was undertaken for assessing the pulpal changes in periodontitis patients. Materials & methods: A total of 100 freshly extracted human teeth were included in the present study. Only those teeth were included which extracted due to presence of severe chronic periodontitis. Immediately after carrying out extraction procedures, teeth were cleaned with normal saline followed by sectioning from 2 to 3 mm of apical portion of the roots. After sectioning, storing of the specimens was done in ten percent formalin solution for 10 days. After complete fixation of pulp tissue, decalcification of the specimens was done in six percent nitric acid. After completion of decalcification, embedding of the specimens was done in paraffin wax followed by longitudinal sectioning in a microtome for producing a 5 µm thickness. All the sections were stained under H and E and were analyzed under microscope for assessing the pulpal changes. Results: Mild pulpal inflammation was present in 25 patients while moderate to heavy inflammation was present in 75 patients. Fibrosis of the pulp tissue was seen in 44 patients was it was absent in 56 patients. In the present study, pulp calcification was seen in 39 percent of the patients while it was absent in remaining 61 percent of the patients. Pulp necrosis was found to be present in 80 percent of the patients. This necrosis was either complete or partial. Conclusion: Degenerative changes of the pulp tissue are commonly associated with periodontal pathologies. However; further studies are recommended. Key words: Periodontitis, Pulpal changes