SECOND MESIOBUCCAL CANALS IN MAXILLARY FIRST MOLARS DETECTED USING CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the numbers of second mesiobuccal canals of first permanent maxillary molars by Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data of patients requiring CBCT images as part of their dental procedures were retrieved from the database of the radiology department of Sardar Begum Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan. CBCT images of 100 maxillary 1st molars from 2016 to 2018 were selected by using consecutive sampling technique. Selection criteria for teeth were no prior endodontic treatment and roots formation completed, while teeth with open root apices and pathology were excluded. All teeth were analyzed in three planes (sagittal, axial, and coronal) and canal numbers per root were recorded. Descriptive statistics were computed in SPSS 20.0. Stratification was done for canals number in maxillary 1st molar among genders and age groups. Post, stratification Chi-Square test was applied to see effect modification.RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 27.41±13.22 years. Second mesiobuccal canal (MB2) was present in 56 (56%) cases. Frequency of second mesiobuccal canal was more in female patients (n=29/40; 72.5%) than male patients (n=27/60; 45%) [p=0.007]. Overall, the most common age group was 10-25 years (57%) followed by 26-50 years (34%). Frequency of second mesiobuccal canal was 45.6% (n=26/57), 38.2% (n=13/34) & 33.3% (n=3/9) in age groups 10-25 years, 26-50 years & >50 years, respectively (p=.004).CONCLUSION: A high frequency was recorded for second mesiobuccal canal in upper first molars and a significant association was noted for second mesiobuccal canal with gender and age group.