Root and root canal diversity in human permanent maxillary first premolars and first molars in inhabitants from the ancient Middle Euphrates Valley (Syria)

Abstract

The morphological and anatomical structure of the roots and root canals of human dentition is very diverse. This means that tooth morphology can effectively differentiate populations and be used in both contemporary and historical research populations. The aim of the study was to investigate whether historical populations from the Middle East showed variation in the number of tooth roots and the morphology of canal systems.The tooth material used for the research was obtained from three sites: Terqa, Tell Masaikh, and Jabel Mashtale (Syria) during archaeological expeditions. The odontological material has been divided into three historical periods: Bronze (2,650-1700 BC), late Roman (200-500 AD) with Islamic (600-1,200 AD), and Modern (1850-1950. The teeth of 31 individuals of both sexes were collected for analysis, with a total of 73 teeth examined. The subjects underwent cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) analysis.The greatest variation in the number of roots and root canal configurations occurred in the Late Roman and Islamic periods. In addition to the typical number of tooth roots and their characteristic root canal configurations, the presence of less typical morphological forms was noticed in each type of tooth analyzed during this period.This may indicate the influx of new genes and their mixing with local ones, which was reflected in the morphological variability.The presented studies, although they must be continued, already indicate that the analysis of root and canal variability broadens the spectrum of odontological studies conducted on historical populations.

Geographic patterns of the number of root canals in permanent molars. A Systematic Review

“…Ethnicity reveals significant anatomical variations in the teeth, as evidenced by the findings of several investigations. There is relevant variability in the number of root and root canal configurations dating from different historical periods, suggesting that genetics influences morphological diversity (7, 105) In addition, odontometric analyses have shown that East and Southeast Asians share dental similarities with sub-Saharan Africans, which places them at the center of a wide range of dental characteristics (106) On the other hand, research on African-American populations has shown the impact of mixing, derivation, and localized gene flow on dental morphology, which demonstrates the complex relationship of sociohistorical factors when studying anatomical characteristics (107) All these studies highlight the intricate correspondence between ethnic origins and dental anatomical variations and shed light on the diverse patterns observed in different population groups around the world (7, 108) . This background derives the complexity of establishing anatomical patterns by considering populations of different continents, although a general view is helpful in visualizing an overview of these times.…”

“…Research indicates that maxillary and mandibular molar primaries can have a wide range of root and channel configurations, with the most common being three canals and three roots in maxillary first molars. (7) and two separate roots with two distinct mesial canals and a distal canal for the first mandibular (8) Other studies conclude that a significant proportion of the first permanent maxillary molars have three roots and four canals, with a high prevalence of a second mesiobuccal canal (MB2) (9, 10, 11) That’s why understanding these variations is vitally important to achieving successful endodontic treatments.…”