title: Accessory foramina in the furcation area of primary molars. A SEM investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The accessory canals in the furcation of primary molars can explain the frequent presence of radiolucency in  the furcation area in case of pulpitis and necrosis of teeth. In fact these canals can represent a communication between  periodontium and pulp tissue allowing bacteria to enter. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of foramina in  the furcation area of primary molars.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of foramina was assessed using extracted  deciduous molars examined with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) evaluation. Thirty extracted human primary molars  (15 upper deciduous molars and 15 lower deciduous molars) were selected to evaluate the presence of extra foramina in their  furcation. All teeth were prepared according to Koenigs' technique: the roots were cut in the furcation area perpendicular to  the canals (1.5 mm apical to the external surface of the furcation and 1 mm apical to the cervical line) and then analysed with  an electronic scanning microscope.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that 23 teeth (77% of the  samples) had one or more extra foramina near the furcation.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, School of dentistry, University of Sassari, Italy. pfluglie@uniss.it
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Lugliè
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grabesu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lumbau
mesh_terms: D063405:Anatomic Variation; D002648:Child; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003804:Dentin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008963:Molar / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009811:Odontometry / Q000379:methods; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000648:ultrastructure*