Root canal morphology of permanent teeth among the native Tanzanians

Abstract

Background: The knowledge of root canal morphology of different teeth is important in the success of root canal treatment. Investigations of root canal morphology are conducted in order to determine the number of root canals, presence of lateral canal, accessory canals, location of apical foramen, presence of apical delta and root canal configuration type. These are important variants of root canal morphology and they have direct impact on success of the root canal treatment (RCT). Variation in the number of root canals, their configurations types, of apical delta' and location of apical foramen has been reported to differ within ethnic groups. Clinicians in Tanzania carry out root canal treatment basing on the knowledge of root canal morphology which was stipulated from different ethnic groups. Data on normal and common variations in the root canal morphology in Tanzanian population is lacking. Objective: To assess the root canals morphology of permanent teeth among the native Tanzanians. Methodology: In this in-vitro study, three hundred and seventy nine (379) extracted permanent teeth were used. The specimen were collected in labeled containers from public dental clinics in Dar es Salam city, and stored in 10% formalin until when the collection was completed. The access cavity of each tooth was prepared and the pulp tissues were dissolved using 5% sodium hypochlorite solution. Methylene blue alkaline ink was injected in the root canals and the specimens were processed using demineralization and clearing technique for study of the root canal morphology. The specimens were then examined for tooth length, number of root canals in each root, root canal configuration type in each root, presence of apical delta and location of apical foramen. Results: The mesiobuccal root of upper molars, (47.5% of the first molars; 46.4% of the second molars) and the distal root of lower molars (40.4% of the first molars; 54.1 % of the second molars) had more variations in the number of root canals than other roots.

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VIII

The majority of the roots which had two canals had canal configuration type II and IV. Whereas, roots with single canal had configuration type I. The occurrence of apical delta were found to be low (2.1 %) and were mainly observed in the palatal root of the upper molars and the distal roots of the lower molars. The location of apical foramen in all the examined specimens in this study was central.

Conclusion: Variations in the root canal morphology were found to occur more frequently in the lower and upper molars in the present study, the variations are common in the mesiobuccal and distal roots of upper and lower molars respectively. These variations should be taken into consideration while carrying out root canal treatment.