title: Determining the apical preparation size in premolars: part III.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate cross sections of the apical part of premolar root canals and determine recommendations for their optimal apical preparation size.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 140 root canals from extracted human premolars (86 maxillary, 54 mandibular) were selected. After preflaring, the electronic working length (WL) was measured to identify where the apical preparation size (APS) should be established. Subsequently, nontapered, noncutting special instruments (SI) were used to reach the WL. The diameter of the largest SI width that reached the WL was defined as d(SI). The roots were apically sectioned at 2 levels, and the diameter of a potential rotary instrument was determined, allowing complete circumferential cutting of the root canal wall for each section. The estimation of APS was then related to d(SI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apically enlarging upper premolars with 2 canals and lower premolars to an individual APS of d(SI) +0.3 mm (6 file sizes) resulted in a 71% to 75% complete preparation of the root canal walls, whereas an enlarged preparation of d(SI) +0.4 mm (8 file sizes) reached 82% to 96%. In upper premolars with a single canal, an APS of d(SI) +0.3 mm completely processed the root canal walls in only 37%, whereas an APS of d(SI) +0.4 mm reached 63%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The APS in 2-canal upper premolars and mandibular premolars should be at least 6 sizes larger than the first apically binding file, whereas in upper premolars with a central canal, the APS should be enlarged to 8 sizes larger. Normally, this implies shaping premolars with 1 canal to #60 to 70 and with 2 canals to #40 to 50.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Hanjo.hecker@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Hanjo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hecker
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartha
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Löst
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weiger
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003804:Dentin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D009811:Odontometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D011859:Radiography; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013499:Surface Properties; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite