Abstract
Aim of this article is to report cases with fluctuating asymmetry in root morphology and root number in permanent premolars and molars and to survey the literature about reporting for fluctuating asymmetry in roots of teeth. Fluctuating asymmetry is a left-right asymmetry of a paired structure that is usually symmetrical. Teeth in corresponding quadrants of the upper and lower jaws are normally symmetrical structures that exhibit mirror imagery. Fluctuating asymmetry does occur at varying levels for all root traits. Fluctuating asymmetry for root morphology and number has been poorly studied. In this article, 21 cases with fluctuating asymmetry in root number and morphology of permanent premolars and molars are reported. Key points are: (1) Fluctuating asymmetry seems to be occurring in Tamil speaking population of Madurai South India more frequently than reported for Caucasian populations. (2) More detailed study of variation in root morphology with greater emphasis on fluctuating asymmetry for root morphology is warranted. 3) Fluctuating asymmetry is of importance to clinical dentists, dental morphologists, and dental anthropologists.
Highlights
Fluctuating asymmetry has been associated with congenital abnormalities, genetic syndromes, and elevated levels of inbreeding, and it is thought to be a general indicator of stress caused by nutritional and/ or disease during development (Scott and Turner 2000)
In a study by Iyer et al (2006) among a South Indian group it was concluded that mandibular second premolars with two roots had an incidence of 6.2%, but the study failed to mention how the radiographs were interpreted for root variations
In the same study, bilateral occurrence of root variation was put at 3.2% but there is no mention which type of root aberrations were encountered or for on which mandibular premolar was affected. This bilateral incidence of 3.2% is much lower than reported by Sabala et al (1994) for bifurcated mandibular second premolar root, which he reported it at 54.5% in a Caucasian population
Summary
Report 1 A 45 year old female reported to the department with the complaint of pain in the mandibular right first and second premolars, a diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis was made. Pain was diagnosed as being due to a mandibular right third molar impaction It was noted on the panoramic radiograph (Fig. 3) that the mandibular left second premolar had two separate roots in mesiodistal orientation, whereas the mandibular right second premolar had only one root. Report 4 A 16 year old female was referred by an orthodontist for restoration and management of dental caries in the mandibular right and left first molars. On examination of a panoramic radiograph (Fig. 4) taken for orthodontic purposes, it was noted that the mandibular left second premolar had two separate roots in mesiodistal orientation, whereas the mandibular right second premolar had only one root. All the mandibular second premolars with extra root configuration in this report had Vertucci Type IV canal configuration (Vertucci 1984)
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