Dentin Morphology of Root Canal Surface: A Quantitative Evaluation Based on a Scanning Electronic Microscopy Study.

Area of Science:

• Dental Anatomy
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Dentin's structure varies across tooth regions, impacting biomechanics and dental adhesives.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for effective conservative dentistry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze root canal dentin from coronal to apical zones.
• To determine the ratio of intertubular dentin to dentin tubule surface area.
• To assess how these ratios vary across different tooth regions.

Main Methods:

• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis.
• Examination of 30 healthy premolar teeth (ages 10-14).
• Comparative analysis of dentin structure in coronal, middle, and apical root canal zones.

Main Results:

• Dentinal tubule diameter decreased from coronal (4.32 μm) to apical (1.73 μm) zones.
• Tubule density was similar in coronal and apical zones but lower in the middle zone.
• Intertubular dentin area increased from apical to coronal portions.

Conclusions:

• Significant variations in dentin structure exist between coronal, middle, and apical root canal regions.
• These structural differences necessitate consideration when selecting adhesive systems for dental restorations.