title: Morphological changes related to age in mesial root canals of permanent mandibular first molars.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate age-related morphological canal changes in mesial root canals of mandibular first molars of known ages. Fifty-six specimens were selected for this study and distributed into the following four age groups (n. 14): a) Group of children under 13 years, b) Group of adolescents (from 14 to 19 years), c) Group of young adults (from 20 to 39 years) and d) Group of older adults (over 40 years). The specimens were in perfect condition because after extraction they were carefully cleaned, sterilized, identified and stored in water. In order to improve the cleaning, they were placed in 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for four hours and rinsed in 10 vol. hydrogen peroxide for 8 hours. After that, a clearing technique was performed to illustrate root canal anatomy. Digitalized images of all samples were obtained by use of a stereomicroscope. Canals were noticeably simpler in older adults: they were sharply defined and narrow, sometimes too narrow. Calcification nuclei were not found and there were only a few remains of internuclear spaces. The canal system appeared cleaner, clearer and more sharply defined than in the other age groups. It may be concluded that there is a correlation between aging and morphological changes in the mesial root canals of mandibular first molars.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endodoncia, Córdoba National University (UNC), Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Omar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Gani
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endodoncia, Córdoba National University (UNC), Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudio F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Boiero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endodoncia, Córdoba National University (UNC), Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endodoncia, Córdoba National University (UNC), Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masin
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endodontia, São Paulo University, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Health Science Center, Grande Rio University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emmanuel J N L
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endodontia, São Paulo University, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Pascoal
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Vansan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D063405:Anatomic Variation; D002648:Child; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite