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An Ex Vivo Study of Root Canal System Configuration and Morphology of 115 Maxillary First Premolars
Thomas Gerhard Wolf1, Christoph Kozaczek2, Mark Siegrist3
1Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Introduction:
The aim of this study was to investigate the root canal system morphology of maxillary first premolars by means of micro-computed tomographic imaging in a Swiss-German population.
Methods:
The root canal configuration (RCC) of 115 maxillary first premolars (Mx1Ps) were investigated by means of micro-computed tomographic imaging and 3-dimensional imaging. The RCC and the physiological foramina results are described by a 4-digit system code.
Results:
Twelve different RCCs were observed in 30 single-rooted Mx1Ps; 2-2-2/2 (30.0%), 1-2-2/2 (13.3%), 1-2-1/2 (10%), and 2-2-1/2 (10.0%) were the most frequent ones. Seven different RCCs were observed in 2-rooted Mx1Ps (n = 81) in which the 1-1-1/1 (56.8%), 1-1-1/2 (29.6%), and 1-1-2/2 (8.6%) in the buccal root and 1-1-1/1 (92.6%) and 1-1-1/2 (6.2%) in the palatal root RCCs appeared most frequently. Three-rooted Mx1Ps (n = 4) showed a 1-1-1/1 (100.0%) RCC in all roots. The buccal root canal in 2-rooted Mx1Ps had 1 physiological foramen in 59.3% and 2 in 40.7% and 1 to 6 accessory foramina in 38.2%. The palatal root canal showed 1 physiological foramen in 93.8% and 2 in 6.2% and 1 to 2 accessory foramina in 14.8%. Single-rooted Mx1Ps showed 1 physiological foramen in 10.0%, 2 in 70.0%, 3 in 13.3%, and 4 in 6.7% and 1 to 3 accessory foramina in 46.7%.
Conclusions:
The results of this study provide detailed morphologic RCC information of Mx1Ps in a Swiss-German population. Single-rooted Mx1Ps showed morphologic diversifications more frequently than 2- or 3-rooted Mx1Ps. Within 2-rooted Mx1Ps, the buccal root had higher RCC variety, accessory canals, and foramina number than the palatal root.
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