Prevalence and location of the secondary mesiobuccal canal in 1,100 maxillary molars using cone beam computed tomography

Abstract

BackgroundSeveral articles have used cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to study the morphology of the maxillary molars and to ascertain its ability to visualize the second mesiobuccal canal (MB2); however, its geometric location has not been examined in depth. The aim of this study was to describe in vivo the prevalence and location of the MB2 in the mesiobuccal root of the first maxillary molar (1MM) and the second maxillary molar (2MM) through CBCT imaging.MethodsFive hundred fifty CBCT images of the 1MM and 550 of the 2MM were analyzed. To detect the MB2 canal, the observation and measurements were done 1 mm apically to the pulpal floor to standardize the methodology. The geometric location of the central point of the MB2 canal (PMB2) was measured in relation to the central point of the mesiobuccal canal (PMB1) and in relation to the line projected between the PMB1 and the central point of the palatal canals (PP). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with a value of P < 0.05 being statistically significant.ResultsIn the 1MM, the prevalence of the MB2 canal was 69.82% and was more frequent in women (p = 0.005). The distance between PMB1 and PP was 7.64 ± 1.04 mm. The average distance between PMB1 and PMB2 was 2.68 ± 0.49 mm, and for PMB2 and the line projected between the PMB1 and PP canals was 1.25 ± 0.34 mm. In the 2MM, the MB2 canal was identified in 46.91% and was more frequent in men (p = 0.000). The distance between PMB1 and PP was 7.02 ± 1.30. The average distance between PMB1 and PMB2 was 2.41 ± 0.64 mm, and for the PMB2 and the line projected between the PMB1 and PP canals was 0.98 ± 0.33 mm.ConclusionsThe MB2 canal was found in a high percentage of the sample. These results indicate that CBCT is an effective, high-precision diagnostic tool not only for detecting but also locating in vivo the MB2 canal in the mesiobuccal root of upper molars.

Prevalence of second canal in the mesiobuccal root of permanent maxillary molars from a Turkish subpopulation: a cone-beam computed tomography study

“…In the 2MM, while the average distance to the MB1 canal was 3.08 ± 0.67 mm, the distance to the PP1 was 5.55 ± 1.09 mm. These distances were greater than reported by Betancourt et al [8], and Gorduysus et al [18]. Our results were similar to study conducted by Gilles et al [17].…”

“…However, if the pulp cavity is not opened sufficiently, the MB2 channel cannot be detected by magnification. For inclined or rotated molar teeth, the magnification is less effective because of a sharp and moder- ate angle of the tooth [8]. Stopko [46] stated that these microsurgical devices alone are inadequate to find and measure the MB2 canal.…”

“…The location of the MB2 canal is often indicated by in vitro studies [17,18]. There were only two studies that demonstrated the MB2 canal location using in vivo CBCT [7,8]. These studies were conducted by the same authors.…”

“…The distances between canals were calculated in millimetres from the centre point of the MB2 canal (PMB2) to the centre point of the mesiobuccal canal (PMB1) and the centre point of the palatal canal (PP) ( Fig. 2) according to the protocol described by Betancourt et al [7,8].…”

Prevalencia del tercer conducto en la raíz mesial de los primeros molares mandibulares permanentes, en pacientes sometidos a tratamiento en la Clínica SERODU, Ecuador

“…Considerando que el primer molar inferior es, sin duda, junto al primer molar maxilar, el diente que más tratamientos de conductos precisa (8) , resulta importante durante el tratamiento endodóntico localizar todos y cada uno de los conductos que forman parte del entramado radicular (4) .…”