Internal root morphology of the maxillary first premolars in Kenyans of African descent.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the internal root morphology of the maxillary first premolar in Kenyans of African descent.


METHODS
In vitro descriptive cross-sectional study.


METHODS
School of Dental Sciences, University of Nairobi.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty five extracted maxillary first premolars obtained from patients aged between 13-30 years attending dental clinics within Nairobi.


RESULTS
There were 77 premolars from males and 78 from females. Majority (87.1%) of the teeth had two canals. Males presented with three canals more commonly than females. This difference was statistically significant. According to Vertucci's classification, male specimens demonstrated five of the canals types while female specimens demonstrated all the eight canal types. These differences were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Kenyan maxillary first premolar was mostly found to have two canals. There were eight canal types, with type IV being the commonest.
Department of Community Oral Health, Kenya Medical Training College, P.O. Box 30195 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
R N
RN
Ng'ang'a
M A
MA
Masiga
S W
SW
Maina
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D044383:Black People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult