title: Study of the number of roots and canals in Senegalese first permanent mandibular molars.
abstract: A study of 480 extracted first permanent mandibular molars of the Oulof people of Senegal, West Africa, revealed 15 teeth with three roots (3.12%), and 120 teeth with four root canals (25%). An extra root correlated with a sextum lingual tubercle in 20% of cases. Analysis of the pulp chambers revealed a variety of rectangular shapes. Comparison of these anomalies with their incidence in other ethnic groups extends the range of incidence of three-rooted first permanent mandibular molars in the Negroid race. This trait is described for only the second time in a Negroid population. The clinical consequences of root variation in root canal treatment are considered.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Sperber
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moreau
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012675:Senegal; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology*