title: A study of furcation defects at first permanent molars in African mandibles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was undertaken after a personal clinical observation (by AV) that periodontal disease and subsequent attachment loss in the molar root bi-furcation occurs more frequently on the buccal than the lingual aspect of mandibular permanent molars, particularly the first molar.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence and severity of furcation defects on the buccal and lingual aspects of mandibular first molars visually and photographically.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and six dried human mandibles with neither caries nor restorations on the second premolar or first and second molars were the study sample. Presence and severity of the furcation defects and the position of the mandibular first molar in the mandibular arch were recorded visually. The mandibles were then photographed using a standardized method and the same observations made and compared with those of the visual recording.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were more furcation defects on the buccal than the lingual aspects. Most first molars were within the arch, followed by buccal then lingual. The lowest prevalence, and severity, of furcation defects was when the first molar was within the mandibular arch.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mandibular first molar furcation prevalence and severity on the lingual was lower than on the buccal aspect, particularly when the first molar was within the arch suggesting that an "anatomically normal" position of the mandibular first molar may have a protective effect. Another observation was that standardized photographs of the mandible may be used for measurements and provides a convenient data base for research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. volchans@iafrica.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volchansky
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cleaton-Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000473:pathology; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology*; D023861:Photography, Dental; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology