3D Endo software features the automatic detection and measurement of several anatomical canal parameters, and is a promising tool for the study of canal complexity in vivo. The unpredictable anatomy of the mesial roots of mandibular molars highlights the value of a three-dimensional preoperative evaluation of each case. The proposed scoring system aims to provide the clinician with an overall assessment of canal complexity.
Objectives:In the present study, confluent canals in the mandibular first molar's mesial root were investigated in an Italian population by means of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).Materials and Methods:A total of 200 molars, selected from the CBCT examinations of 130 patients who required this type of X-ray study as part of their dental treatment, were examined. The evaluated parameters were number of canals, root canal system configuration, presence of apical confluences, distance between confluences and apical foramina, which canal had a higher degree of curvature, and symmetry between left and right elements in the same individual.Statistical Analysis Used:Percentages of the cases were reported.Results:All the examined roots presented two canals. In 59% of cases, a Vertucci Type IV canal configuration was observed, while in 41% of cases, a Type II configuration was observed. Apical confluences were present in 41% of cases. The average distance between confluences and apical foramina was 2.85 mm. When confluences were present, the mesiobuccal canal showed a higher degree of curvature in 78% of cases. Symmetry in Vertucci configuration was seen in 88% of cases.Conclusions:Apical confluences in the mesial roots of mandibular molar can be present in a significantly high number of cases, and their recognition is essential to prevent the iatrogenic errors during canal instrumentation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.