title: Anatomic symmetry of root and root canal morphology of posterior teeth in Indian subpopulation using cone beam computed tomography: A retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the anatomic symmetry of maxillary and mandibular posteriors in Indian subpopulation using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT images of 246 patients that had at least one noncarious, posterior tooth free of restorations in each quadrant were enrolled for retrospective analysis. A total of 3015 teeth (811 maxillary premolars, 845 mandibular premolars, 738 maxillary molars, and 621 mandibular molars) were analyzed for number of roots and root canals, canal morphology and anatomic symmetry, and concurrent types between the maxilla and mandible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the percentage of symmetry for maxillary first (81.5%) and second (81.5%) premolars. Mandibular second premolars (98.3%) exhibited greater symmetry than mandibular first premolars (96.1%). First molars (77.5% and 82.1%) showed greater symmetry than second molars (70.8% and 78.6%), in both maxillary and mandibular arches, respectively. The most common anatomy observed were: maxillary first premolars - 2 roots with 2 canals, maxillary second premolars - 1 root with 2 canals, mandibular first and second premolars - 1 root with 1 canal, maxillary first and second molars - 3 roots with 4 canals, and mandibular first and second molars - 2 roots with 3 canals. When compared with any other teeth, maximum asymmetry was observed in maxillary second molar (29.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The percentage of symmetry observed in the present study varied from 70% to 98% with least percentage of symmetry in maxillary second molars. These data should alert the clinicians while treating homonymous teeth of the same patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Gnanasekaran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Felsypremila
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Thilla Sekar
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Vinothkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Deivanayagam
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kandaswamy
keywords: Anatomic symmetry; C-shaped canal; cone beam computed tomography; posterior teeth; radix entomolaris; radix paramolaris; root canal morphology