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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Analysis of Craniomaxillofacial Malformations in Mice Using Three-dimensional Microcomputed Tomography
Published on: January 17, 2025
Three-dimensional analysis of maxillary first molar mesiobuccal root canal configuration and curvature using
Jong-Wook Park1, Jong-Ki Lee, Byung-Hyun Ha
1Department of Oral Anatomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Objective:
The complex anatomic configuration of the maxillary first molar mesiobuccal (MB) root canal system has been the subject of several studies. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the 3-dimensional (3D) characteristics of the maxillary first molar MB canal system using micro-computed tomography (microCT).
Study Design:
Extracted maxillary first molars (46) were scanned by microCT and their canals reconstructed by 3D modeling software.
Results:
In these MB roots, nearly two-thirds (65.2%) had 2 canals, fewer than one-third (28.3%) had only 1 canal, and a few (6.5%) had 3 canals. The most common root canal configuration was 2 distinct canals (type III: 37.0%), followed by 1 single canal (type I: 28.3%), 2 canals that joined together (type II: 17.4%), 1 canal that split into 2 (type IV: 10.9%), and 3 canals (type V: 6.5%).
Conclusion:
MicroCT provided an in-depth analysis of canal configurations, as well as length, curvature, and location of calcified segments.
