title: Furcation entrance anatomy of the fourth maxillary premolar in dogs.
abstract: Tooth surface and interradicular area (furcation) measurements were determined for 20 fourth maxillary premolar teeth obtained randomly from canine cadavers. The palatal furcation entrance had a mean width of 1.2 +/- 0.1 mm. The coronal roof of the palatal furcation was located at the cementoenamal junction (CEJ). The buccal furcation entrance had a mean width of 0.9 +/- 0.2 mm. The horizontal attachment area between the CEJ and the coronal roof of the buccal furcation was 1.3 +/- 0.3 mm. The mesial furcation entrance had a mean width of 0.4 +/- 0.1 mm. The horizontal attachment area between the CEJ and the coronal roof of the mesial furcation entrance was 1.7 +/- 0.3 mm. The mean coefficient of variation for variables measured was 10.3%. Tooth size did not have a significant effect on furcation entrance measurement. All teeth had a fluted area between the CEJ and mesial furcation, a concavity coronal to the furcation area, a distal concavity of the mesial root trunk between the mesiopalatal and mesiobuccal roots, and a mesial furcation concavity of the distal root extending apically for a mean distance of 60% of the distal root length. The complexity of furcation entrance anatomy may be a factor in the manifestation of periodontal disease involving the furcation of the fourth maxillary premolar in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Callan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rozum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008437:Maxilla; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology