Dentin thickness of the mesio-buccal root wall of the lower first molar using cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT)

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of this work was to check the average thickness of dentinal wall of the mesio-buccal root of the first lower molar using CBCT axial sections of intact teeth. Material and method. In this cross-sectional study, 100 CBCT images of mandibular first molars from the Promax 3Dent radiology center in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina were evaluated. A Planmeca Promax3D Max apparatus (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland) was used, with a field of view (FOV) of 8 ? 8 cm and a resolution of 0.1 mm. Analysis was performed using Romexis Viewer software version 3.1.1 (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland). At an axial thickness of 0.1 mm, transverse sections with a distance of 1 mm were made below the furcation area (at a magnification ?10) at a distance of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 mm from the furcation. The data were then analyzed by paired t-test. Results. The thickness of dentinal wall of the mesio-buccal root of the lower first molar was significantly smaller at 2 mm and 3 mm than when measured at 1, 4 and 5 mm (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between measurements at 1, 4 and 5 mm below the furcation area (p = 0.001). Conclusion. Due to the small thickness of dentinal wall at 2-3 mm below the furcation in the root canal, caution is required when instrumenting mesio-buccal canal of the lower first molar and correct selection of the instrumentation technique in order to avoid transportation or stripping perforation that may lead to root fracture.