Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the root and canal morphology of mandibular first and second molars in a Turkish population by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Study design: CBCT images of mandibular first (n = 823) and second molar (n = 925) teeth from 605 Turkish patients were analyzed. The root canal configurations were classified according to the method of Vertucci. Results: The majority of mandibular molars (95.8% of first molars, 85.4% of second molars) had two separate roots; however, three roots were identified in 2.06% of first molars and 3.45% of second molars. C-shaped canals occurred 0.85% of first molars and 4.1% of second molars. Three canals were found in 79.9% of first molars and 72.8% of second molars. Most distal roots had a simple type I configuration, whereas mesial roots had more complex canal systems, with more than one canal. The most common root morphology of first and second molars is the two rooted morphology with three canals. Both the mesial and distal roots showed wide variations in canal anatomy with type IV and type I canal configuration predominating in the mesial and distal roots, respectively. Conclusion: Vertucci type I and IV canal configurations were the most prevalent in the distal and mesial roots, respectively, of both the mandibular first and second permanent molar teeth. Key words:Cone-beam CT, Turkish, mandibular molars, root and canal morphology.

Objective:The aim of the present study is to assess the root and root canal morphology of maxillary and mandibular premolars in a Turkish population by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).Materials and Methods:In this study, CBCT images of 2134 premolars (987 maxillary, 1147 mandibular) were obtained from 404 patients. Details of gender, age, number of roots and canals, and canal configuration in each root were recorded. The canal configuration was classified and evaluated according to Vertucci's criteria.Results:The majority of maxillary premolars had two separate roots; although, three roots were identified in 1% of maxillary first premolars. However, most of the mandibular premolars had a single root. The two canals (69.9%) and type I (62.6%) and type II (34.1%) configuration for upper first premolar, one canal (82.1%) and type I (77.6%) canal configuration for second premolar was the most prevalent root canal frequency. The most prevalent root canal frequency was the one canal (96.2%) and type I (94.2%) and type V (3.2%) configuration for mandibular first premolar, one canal (98.9%) and type I (98.9%) canal configuration for second premolar. There was no difference in the root canal configurations and the numbers of canals between the left and the right side of both females and males (P > 0.05).Conclusions:Recognition of morphology and anatomy of the root canal system is one of the most important factors for successful endodontic treatment. Preoperative CBCT examination allows determination of root canal configuration of premolar teeth and helps clinicians in root canal treatment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of Stafne bone defect (SBD) and to describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of detected cases. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using panoramic radiographs from 34 221 patients undergoing dental treatment in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at Erciyes University and Ataturk University, Turkey. After finding an image compatible with SBD in the radiographs, multislice CT (MSCT) on seven patients and cone beam CT (CBCT) on six patients were performed to confirm the diagnosis. Results: Of the 34 221 patients, 29 (0.08 %) had SBDs, of whom 4 were female (13.8%) and 25 were male (86.2 %). The age range of patients with SBD was 18-77 years (mean age 49.6 years). SBD was found in the lingual molar region in 28 patients and in the lingual caninepremolar region of the mandible in 1 patient. The contour of the concavities on CT images (MSCT and CBCT) was detected. The MSCT revealed glandular tissue within the defects. Conclusions: According to our results, SBD is an uncommon anomaly. Examination of MSCT images supports the presence of aberrant submandibular glands within these mandibular defects, suggesting that pressure from submandibular gland tissue had caused the SBD, as generally thought. Both CBCT and MSCT can provide adequate support for the detection of SBDs. The CBCT could be suggested as the most suitable non-invasive diagnostic modality for this bony configuration of the mandible since it provides a lower radiation exposure dose than MSCT. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2012) 41, 152-158. doi: 10.1259/dmfr/10586700 Keywords: bone cyst; computer-assisted three-dimensional imaging; panoramic radiography; cone beam computed tomography; salivary glands Introduction Stafne bone defect (SBD) was first described by Stafne in 1942, who reported 35 asymptomatic unilateral radiolucent cavities in the posterior region of the mandible. Lesions were located between the mandibular angle and the third molar, below the inferior dental canal and above the mandibular base. 1 Many other terms have been used to describe this entity, including aberrant or ectopic salivary gland; static, latent or idiopathic defect, cavity or cyst; mandibular salivary gland inclusion; lingual mandibular bone cavity, concavity or depression; and Stafne cyst, defect or cavity. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The posterior lingual variant has an incidence of between 0.10% and 0.48% when diagnosed radiologically. However, some cadaver studies have revealed that the incidence of the lesion may be as high as 6.06%. The age range is quite wide, although there is a clear predilection for males in the fifth or sixth decade. 3,6,9 When the term SBD is found in the literature, it usually refers to the posterior lingual variant. The anterior lingual variant is seven times less frequent than the posterior and is usually located between the incisor and the premolar areas, above the insertion of the mylohyoid muscle. 2,11When reviewing the literature regar...

The present study provides comprehensive information to the existing literature concerning the variation in root canal morphology of the maxillary and mandibular primary molar teeth. These data may help clinicians in the root canal treatment of these teeth.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the frequency and distribution of odontogenic tumors (OTs) in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, and to compare the findings with those reported in the literature. Study Design: The records of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology Departments at Erciyes University, with histologic diagnosis of odontogenic tumors (based on the World Health Organization classification, 2005), over a 12-year period, were analyzed. The relative frequency of different types of tumors was also analyzed and compared with the literature. Results: OTs in the present study constituted 2.74% of all the 7,942 registered biopsies. A total of 218 cases of OTs were collected and reviewed. Of these, (94.04%) were benign and (5.96%) were malignant. The mandible was the most commonly affected anatomic location, with 170 cases (77.9%). Ameloblastoma with a predilection for the posterior mandible was the most frequent odontogenic tumor (30.28%), followed by keratocystic odontogenic tumor (19.5%), odontoma (13.4%), and odontogenic myxoma (8.5%). Conclusions: OTs are rare neoplasms and appear to show geographic variations in the world. In Cappadocia, Turkey, they are more common in the mandible, with ameloblastoma followed by keratocystic odontogenic tumors with the incidences observed in the present study being similar to those of previous studies from Asia and Africa, and in contrast to those reported from American countries. Key words:Odontogenic tumors, WHO classification, prevalence, jaws.

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Objective: To test the null hypothesis that there were no significant differences for pharyngeal airway volumes between the adolescent patients affected by bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) and well-matched controls using cone beam computed tomography. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 16 patients (11 female and 5 male; mean [SD] age 14.1 [2.1] years) affected by BCLP and 16 patients (10 female and 6 male; mean [SD] age 13.4 [2.0] years) as age-and sex-matched control group. Craniofacial measurements and pharyngeal airway dimension, area, and volume measurements of patients in both groups were calculated and statistically examined using Student's t-test and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the BCLP and control groups for SNB (P , .05), SN-GoGn (P , .05), Co-A (P , .05), PAS (P , .01), minAx (P , .01), and oropharyngeal airway volume (P , .05). The most predictive variables for oropharyngeal airway volume were found as PAS (r 5 .655 and P 5 .000) and minAx (r 5 .787 and P 5 .000). Conclusions: The null hypothesis was rejected. Oropharyngeal (P , .05) and total (P . .05) airway volumes were found to be less in the BCLP group, and thus the treatment choice in these patients should have positive effects on the pharyngeal airway. (Angle Orthod. 2014;84:995-1001.)

Objectives:To determine the prevalence of idiopathic osteosclerosis (IO) in the jaw by radiographic evaluation and to investigate the relationship between the findings in relation to age, gender, and localization.Methods:The study included 2,211 panoramic radiographs obtained from the patients (915 men and 1,296 women) whose ages ranged from 10–77 and who visited the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology in the Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University between 2008 and 2009.Results:Of 2,211 patients, 135 patients (6.1%) had IO. The prevalence obtained in our study was in the range reported in the literature. IO was detected more often in mandible rather than the maxilla. In addition, mandibular molar localization was the most common localization, and most of the lesions were associated with root apices.Conclusions:In view of the findings, IO can be defined as developmental variations of normal bony architecture, which are unrelated to local stimuli. The lesions can arise at any age, any location with no sex predilection, and IO usually requires no treatment other than diagnosis. Because all these lesions were located in the jaw and could only is detected in panoramic evaluations, this indicates the importance of careful diagnostic evaluation of radiographies in dental examinations.