title: Cone-beam computed tomography study of root and canal morphology of maxillary first and second molars in an Indian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the root and canal morphology of maxillary first and second molars in an Indian population by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Maxillary first (n = 220) and second (n = 205) molars were collected from an indigenous Indian population and scanned by using a CBCT scanner at a constant slice thickness of 125 μm/slice. Volume rendering and multiplanar volume reconstruction were performed. The number of root canals was examined, and root canal system configurations were classified by using historical and contemporary classifications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single-rooted first and second molars commonly showed types I, IV (0.5%) and type III (1%) canal systems, respectively. Buccal roots of two-rooted first molars showed 2 canal systems, type I and type IV, whereas second molars with 2 roots showed wide variations in canal anatomy. The most common canal morphology in the mesiobuccal roots of three-rooted first and second molars was type I (51.8% and 62%, respectively), followed by type IV (38.6% and 50%, respectively). The distobuccal and palatal roots of first and second molars showed predominantly type I canal morphology. Additional canal types were identified in 2.2% and 9.3% of the first and second molars, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The root number, morphology, and canal morphology of Indian maxillary molars showed features that were different from both Caucasian and Mongoloid traits. CBCT is an exciting and clinically useful tool in studying root canal morphology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. prasanna@totaldentalcare.org
authors.forename: Prasanna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neelakantan
authors.forename: Chandana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Subbarao
authors.forename: Roshni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.forename: Chandragiri Venkata
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Subbarao
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gutmann
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008437:Maxilla; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D044465:White People