title: Root canal system of the maxillary canine.
abstract: To better assess the efficacy of mechanical preparation of root canals, transparent specimens of 250 extracted maxillary canines were investigated for canal configuration, thickness and curvature of the root canal, condition of any accessory canals, and location of the apical foramen. Fewer than 40% of the specimens showed accessory canals that were mechanically impossible to clean. The majority of the lateral branches were small, greater than a #15 file, and none of the branches were larger than a #20 file. Although apical foramina located away from the apex were observed in 30% of the maxillary teeth, 96% of all apical foramina were within 0.5 mm of the apex. Data on the thickness of the root and main canal in the apical portion and curvature of the root canal suggest that, for adequate apical preparation, a #60 file must be able to reach the apical constriction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics and Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Matsumoto Dental University, 1780, Gohara, Hirooka, Shiojiri 399-0781, Japan. makiko@po.mdu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anzai
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Utsuno
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawase
authors.forename: Etsuo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kasahara
mesh_terms: D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging