[Use of angulated radiograph in clinical judgement of obturation quality of molars with multiple root canals].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate different angle projection technique for clinical judgment of obturation quality of molars with multiple root canals.


METHODS
Eighty-seven maxillary first molars with second mesiobuccal canal (MB2) and 105 mandibular first molars were selected. The canals were instrumented by Ni-Ti rotary instruments and obturated with lateral condensation technique. To judge the obturation quality of the root canals, the radiograph was taken at a horizontal angles of 0 and 20 - 30 degrees from distal direction of the tooth after the treatment.


RESULTS
For maxillary first molars, periapical radiographs showed 23.0% of MB2. Distally angulated radiographs showed 81.6% of MB2. For mandibular first molars, periapical radiographs showed 38.1% of mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals, and distally angulated radiographs showed 90.5% of two mesial root canals.


CONCLUSIONS
Most buccal-lingual distributed root canals of the first molar can be shown more clearly by distally angulated radiographs.
Xu
Qiong
Q
Department of Cariology and Endodontology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China.
Tu
Zhi-ping
ZP
Zhou
Yu-zhu
YZ
Ling
Jun-qi
JQ
D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012389:Root Canal Obturation