Apical anatomy of primary molar root canals: a micro-Ct study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Endodontics
• Dental Anatomy

Background:

• Understanding the apical anatomy of primary teeth is crucial for effective endodontic treatment.
• Previous studies have varied in their focus on specific tooth types or populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the apical anatomy of mandibular second primary molars in Egyptian children using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT).
• To analyze the spatial relationship between the apical foramen and the anatomic apex.
• To determine the morphology and dimensions of the root canal at the apical foramen level.

Main Methods:

• Fifty extracted human mandibular second primary molars were scanned using high-resolution micro-CT.
• Measurements included the distance between the apical foramen and apex, canal major diameter, and roundness at the foramen level.
• Statistical analysis compared differences among canal types (distal, mesiobuccal, mesiolingual).

Main Results:

• The apical foramen never coincided with the anatomic apex in any canal.
• The mean apex-to-foramen distance was 0.57 mm.
• Distal canals had significantly larger diameters than mesial canals, with predominantly oval shapes observed overall.

Conclusions:

• The apical foramen is consistently offset from the anatomic apex in primary mandibular second molars of Egyptian children.
• Distal canals exhibit the largest major diameter at the apical foramen.
• Pediatric endodontic treatment should focus on accurate working-length determination and conservative shaping with effective disinfection.