Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 109, Issue 4 , Pages 303-308, April 2010

Evaluation of Root and Canal Systems of Mandibular First Molars in Taiwanese Individuals Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography

  • Chih-Chia Huang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dentistry, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ya-Chi Chang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dentistry, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Meng-Che Chuang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dentistry, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Tat-Minc Lai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dentistry, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Juin-Yih Lai

      Affiliations

    • R & D Center for Membrane Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan University, Chung Li, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Bor-Shiunn Lee

      Affiliations

    • Graduate Institutes of Oral Biology, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Bor-Shiunn Lee, Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, 1 Chang-Te Street, Taipei 10016, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chun-Pin Lin

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Received 23 April 2009; received in revised form 24 June 2009; accepted 24 June 2009.

Background/Purpose

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) can provide valuable data for root canal systems of human teeth. This study used CBCT to evaluate the number of roots and canals in mandibular first molars in Taiwanese individuals.

Methods

We screened 151 patients (76 male and 75 female) scheduled for CBCT scan prior to implantation, or orthodontic, endodontic, or periodontic treatment between June 2006 and March 2009 at the Department of Dentistry, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. A total of 237 image samples of mandibular first molars were obtained and analyzed for their number of roots and canals.

Results

We found that 177 (74.7%) mandibular first molars had two roots and 60 (25.3%) had three roots. Of the 237 teeth, 133 (56.1%) had three canals, 96 (40.5%) had four, and eight (3.4%) had two canals. Of the 86 patients (43 male and 43 female) with bilateral mandibular first molars, 22 (25.6%, 15 male and 7 female) had bilateral three-rooted mandibular first molars, and six (7.0%, 4 male and 2 female) had unilateral three-rooted mandibular first molars. The χ2 test showed a significantly higher incidence of three-rooted mandibular first molars in male (44.2%, 19/43) than in female (20.9%, 9/43, p = 0.038) subjects.

Conclusion

Our results showed a high overall incidence (32.6%) of three-rooted mandibular first molars in Taiwanese individuals. CBCT could be a valuable tool for identifying an extra distolingual root in mandibular first molars.

Key Words:  cone-beam computed tomography , molar , root canal

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PII: S0929-6646(10)60056-3

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(10)60056-3

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 109, Issue 4 , Pages 303-308, April 2010

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