title: Root canal morphology of permanent three-rooted mandibular first molars: Part III--An odontometric analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to quantitatively analyze the root canal morphology of three-rooted mandibular first molars by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty three-rooted mandibular first molars were scanned by micro-CT scans. The teeth were reconstructed three-dimensionally by software Mimics 10.01 (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). The levels of the root apexes and furcations; the diameters; wall thicknesses; and tapers of the mesiobuccal (MB), mesiodistal (ML), distobuccal (DB) and distolingual (DL) canals were determined. The buccolingual/mesiodiatal (BL/MD) diameter ratios (ΔC) and the prevalence of long oval canals (ΔC > 2) at different levels were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of distal furcations was significantly (P < .01) lower than that of MD furcations with an average of 1.09 mm. The buccal and lingual walls were significantly (P < .05) thicker than the mesial and distal for the MB, ML, and DB canals. Among four canals, the DL canal had the smallest mean value of ΔC at each level. The average BL taper was greater than the MD for each canal except the middle portion of the DL canal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vertical length, width, BL/MD diameter ratio, wall thickness, and BL taper of the DB canals are on average greater than the DL canals. The MB, ML, and DB canals are more oval, whereas the DL canals are relatively rounder. The geometric data of root canals are useful for endodontic treatment on three-rooted mandibular first molars.
authors.affiliation: Dental Department, First Hospital of Wujiang City, Wujiang, China.
authors.forename: Yongchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Peigang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yuefeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Longxing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009811:Odontometry / Q000379:methods*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult