Micro-computed Tomographic Analysis of Mandibular Second Molars with C-shaped Root Canals

Author(s)

Amoroso-Silva, Pablo Andres ^[1] ; Ordinola-Zapata, Ronald ^[1] ; Hungaro Duarte, Marco Antonio ^[1] ; Gutmann, James L. ^[2] ; del Carpio-Perochena, Aldo ^[1] ; Bramante, Clovis Monteiro ^[1] ; de Moraes, Ivaldo Gomes ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Bauru Sch Dent, Dept Operat Dent Endodont & Dent Mat, Bauru - Brazil

^[2] Texas A&M Univ, Syst Hlth Sci Ctr, Baylor Coll Dent, Dept Endodont, Dallas, TX - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ENDODONTICS; v. 41, n. 6, p. 890-895, JUN 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

Introduction: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the morphometric aspects of the internal anatomy of the root canal system of mandibular second molars with C-shaped canals. Methods: Fifty-two extracted second mandibular molars with C-shaped canals, fused roots, and radicular grooves were selected from a Brazilian population. The samples were scanned with a micro computed tomographic scanner at a voxel size of 19.6 mu m. The root canal cross sections were recorded as C1, C2, C3, and C4 root canal configurations according to the modified Melton classification. Morphometric parameters, including the major and minor diameters of the root canals, the aspect ratio, the roundness, and the tridimensional configuration (merging, symmetric, and asymmetric), were evaluated. Results: The 3-dimensional reconstruction images of the teeth indicated an even distribution within the sample. The analysis of the prevalence of the different cross-sectional configurations of the C-shaped molars revealed that these were predominantly of the C4 and C3 configurations (1 mm from the apex) and the C1 and C2 configurations in the cervical third. According to the morphometric parameters, the C1 and the distal aspect of the C2 configurations exhibited the lowest roundness values and higher values for the area, major diameter, and aspect ratio in the apical third. Conclusions: Mandibular molars with C-shaped root canals exhibited similar distributions of symmetric, asymmetric, and merging type canals. The C1 configuration and the distal aspect of the C2 configuration exhibited the highest area values, low roundness values, and large apical diameters. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/03695-0 - Analysis of the anatomy, shaping and disinfection procedures on roots by microcomputed tomography, rapid prototyping, optical and confocal microscopy study.
• Grantee: Ronald Ordinola Zapata
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 14/03009-1 - Evaluation of the internal anatomy, instrumentation and retreatment techniques, using new mechanized instrumentation systems on permanent mandibulary second molars with fused roots
• Grantee: Pablo Andrés Amoroso Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate