The influence of tooth wear on root canal dimensions

The objective was to investigate the relations between tooth wear and root canal dimensions. The experimental group comprised 100 cuspids (canines), 50 of which had advanced abrasion and 50 were without it The dimensions of root canal were investigated at the light microscope level in order to define their vestibulo-oral and mesio-distal diameters in all three thirds. In the groups of teeth without abrasion the MD diameters of root canaliculi in their cervical thirds were greater than in the teeth with advanced abrasion. In the apical third the MD diameters of canaliculi were highly variable in teeth with no signs of abrasion. In the group of teeth with abrasion the MD and VO diameter values of the cervical thirds were significantly smaller than in the group of teeth without abrasion. In the mid-thirds the values of MD diameters were highly variable in the group of teeth with abrasion, whereas the VO diameter values were much greater than in the teeth without abrasion. As regards to the apical thirds, the VO diameter values were greater than in the control teeth. The data presented herewith contribute to better knowledge about tooth wear and are highly useful in restorative and reconstructive dental procedures.