Mandibular first premolar apical morphology: A stereomicroscopic study.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Anatomy

Background:

• The apical foramen's morphology is crucial for endodontic procedures.
• Understanding variations in apical foramen anatomy is essential for successful root canal treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the size, shape, and position of the apical foramen in mandibular first premolars.
• To determine the relationship between patient age and gender and the apical foramen's characteristics.
• To analyze the frequency and deviation of accessory foramina.

Main Methods:

• Stereomicroscopic examination of 101 extracted human mandibular first premolars.
• Recording of patient age and gender.
• Analysis of foramen number, size, shape, and accessory foramina at the apex.

Main Results:

• 64% of premolars had a single foramen, while 23% had two.
• The distance from the foramen opening to the apex varied from 0.07 to 2.18 mm.
• Irregular shapes were dominant in younger individuals (41%), whereas round shapes predominated in older individuals (45%).
• Apical foramen shape changed with age, and the distance to the anatomical apex increased with age.

Conclusions:

• Age significantly influences the shape and apical positioning of the mandibular first premolar foramen.
• These findings provide valuable anatomical data for endodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.