Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the root canal morphology of permanent maxillary molars by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) using the classifications of Weine et al. and Vertucci and to correlate the findings with sex, age, position in the dental arch, and prevalence of a second canal in the mesiobuccal root (MB2). A total of 414 scans were evaluated, corresponding to 1,000 teeth. The assessment consisted of coronal, axial, and sagittal reconstructions using i-CAT Workstation®. Type 0 was assigned when neither classification could be applied. The data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS. The chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare the distribution of root canal morphology classified using the two systems. Analysis of the distribution of Weine types showed a predominance of type III in mesiobuccal roots, while type 0 predominated in distobuccal and palatal roots. Vertucci type IV predominated in mesiobuccal and distobuccal roots and type VII in palatal roots. There was no difference in the distribution of morphological canal types in permanent maxillary molars evaluated by CBCT according to sex, age group, or position in the dental arch of the patients. MB2 canals were identified in 68.4% of the teeth evaluated.
Highlights
Ere was no difference in the distribution of morphological canal types in permanent maxillary molars evaluated by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) according to sex, age group, or position in the dental arch of the patients
Root canal morphology shows distinct configurations between different populations and between different tooth groups, among molars [3]. e maxillary molars have complex anatomy, and their root canal system is characterized by wide variations, a fact that represents a constant challenge for the dentist [4]. ese teeth generally have three roots (mesiobuccal (MB), distobuccal (DB), and palatal (P)) and can contain up to three mesial canals, two distal canals, and two palatal canals [5, 6]
Scans of patients ranging in age from 10 to 90 years with permanent maxillary first and/or second molars were included in the study
Summary
Scans that met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for the sample of the present study. Scans of patients ranging in age from 10 to 90 years with permanent maxillary first and/or second molars were included in the study. Calibration consisted of assessing tomographic images from 30 teeth (maxillary first and second molars), selected according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, under the same established conditions. 426 scans were not included in the assessment because of (1) insufficient field of view, (2) presence of at least one of the exclusion criteria attributed to all maxillary molars, and (3) poor image quality for diagnostic purposes. Among all maxillary scans examined, 1,350 teeth were excluded from the sample because they met one or more of the predefined exclusion criteria. Evaluation of the CBCT Images. e root canal morphology of the molars was evaluated in a dark and silent room at the Dental Radiology Clinic of UFPE using a e Scientific World Journal
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