title: Prevalence of two root canals in human mandibular anterior teeth in an Iranian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complete debridement and obturation of the root canal system is a key factor in successful endodontic treatment and the operator should therefore have thorough knowledge of the root canal morphology of the teeth. Numerous studies have been carried out to investigate the canal configuration of different tooth types in various populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the internal anatomy of mandibular incisors and canines in an Iranian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 463 mandibular anterior teeth, including 186 centrals, 128 laterals, and 149 canines, were examined. A standard clearing technique was used to make the teeth transparent. India ink was injected into the canals of the teeth and the samples were examined with a magnifying glass. The root canal configurations were categorized according to the Vertucci classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the incisors in this study had one root, and 12.08% of the canines had two roots. We found a slightly higher prevalence of the second canal in incisors than in canines (36.62% vs. 20.48%). However, the probability of canines having two separate apical foramina was higher than that for incisors (12.08% vs. 0.64%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the high prevalence of two-canaled mandibular anterior teeth found in this study, it would be prudent to assume that any mandibular anterior tooth being treated is two-canaled until a thorough search proves otherwise.
authors: Dental and Periodontal Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Saeed
authors: S
authors: Rahimi
authors: Amin Salem
authors: AS
authors: Milani
authors: Shahriar
authors: S
authors: Shahi
authors: Youbert
authors: Y
authors: Sergiz
authors: Saeed
authors: S
authors: Nezafati
authors: Mehrdad
authors: M
authors: Lotfi
mesh_terms: D063405:Anatomic Variation; D002244:Carbon; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003481:Cuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007492:Iran; D008334:Mandible; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; C028433:chinese ink; D002244:Carbon