Assessment of root canal morphology of mandibular first premolars in the Indian population using spiral computed tomography: an in vitro study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to determine the root canal morphology of the mandibular first premolar teeth in an Indian population using spiral computed tomography (SCT).


METHODS
One hundred extracted mandibular first premolars were observed using Spiral Computed Tomography for the (i) Pattern of root canal (ii) Tooth length (iii) Position of the bifurcation of the canal (iv) Invagination of the root (v) Root thickness. The root canal morphology was classified based on Vertucci's classification.


RESULTS
Eighty percent of the teeth had a single canal, 11% of the teeth had two canals, and C-shaped canals were found in 2% of the teeth, in this study. The average length of the teeth was 21.6 mm. Fourteen percent of the teeth had mesial invagination of the root.


CONCLUSIONS
The Type I root canal morphology was the most common type of root canal system in the mandibular first premolars among the Indian population in this study.
Sandhya
Raghu
R
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Alapakkam Main Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai-602 102, India.
Velmurugan
Natanasabapathy
N
Kandaswamy
Deivanayagam
D
D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002965:Classification; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008334:Mandible; D009811:Odontometry / Q000379:methods*; D012015:Reference Standards; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging