Variations in Crown Size and Root Canal Configuration in a Sample of Human Permanent Maxillary and Mandibular Molars in Egyptian Population

Abstract

Structural variations in teeth are a part of dental anthropological system and should be addressed in different populations or races.Aim: This study aimed to assess buccolingual thickness, mesiodistal width, cusp height, and root canal configurations using measurement, CBCT, and statistical analysis in a sample of permanent maxillary and mandibular molars in Egyptian population.Materials and Methods: 42 extracted human permanent molars were collected from archives of Oral Biology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams university. Dimensions were measured using a digital caliper and root canal configuration was assessed using CBCT.Results: Maxillary first molars (M1), showed statistically significant higher mean value than the maxillary second molars (M2) as regards MD width, ML DB diameter and DB Cusp height. While the mandibular first molars showed statistically significant higher mean value compared to mandibular second molars as regards BL dimension and MD width. For maxillary molars: Regarding CBCT, MB roots 39.0% showed type I canal configuration, 26.8% showed type II & IV canal configuration and 7.3% showed type VI canal configuration. All DB and palatal roots showed type I canal configuration. For mandibular molars: The mesial roots showed 2.9% type I canal configuration, 65.7% type II, and 31.4% type IV. All distal roots showed type I canal configuration.Conclusions: Crowns of maxillary and mandibular first molars are significantly larger in all dimensions than maxillary and mandibular second molars respectively, CBCT is useful in determining variation in root canal configuration.