Evaluation the root canal shape among residents of Moscow region using cone beam computed tomography scanning

The aim of this study was to evaluate the features of the root canals cross-sectional shape at the coronal, middle, and apical levels using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) among residents of Moscow region. CBCT images of 560 patients were analysed. The cross-sectional shape was determined in the horizontal plane at the coronal, middle and apical thirds of the root canal on intact teeth. The root canal shape was determined as follows: round, oval, and ribbon-like. The root canals of the maxillary anterior teeth belong to the canals with a constant cross-sectional shape from the coronal to the apex, while for mandibular anterior teeth it might change in the apical area. In premolars, oval shape was found in almost 70.0%, ribbon-like shape in 30.0%. For maxillary molars, a changing shape in the middle and apical thirds was established in the mesio-buccal and disto-buccal canals. In the mandibular molars, the shape of the canals changed in the middle and apical thirds of mesial and distal roots. The high occurrence of oval and ribbon-shaped canals, especially in the apical region, may be a problem in their processing and requires further study.