Prevalence and correlation of C-shaped root canals of mandibular premolars and molars in Eastern Chinese individuals.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, correlation, and differences of C-shaped root canals (CSRCs) morphology in permanent mandibular premolars and molars in Eastern Chinese individuals using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). A total of 8000 mandibular first premolars (MFPs), mandibular second premolars (MSPs), mandibular first molars (MFMs), and mandibular second molars (MSMs) CBCT images from 1000 patients (692 females and 308 males) were collected. The prevalence, correlation, bilateral/unilateral presence, the morphology of CSRCs, level of canal bifurcation, gender differences, and location of radicular grooves (RGs) were evaluated. The prevalence of CSRCs in MFPs, MSPs, MFMs and MSMs were 10.25%, 0.25%, 0.55% and 47.05%, respectively. The prevalence of CSRCs in MFPs of males was higher than that in females, while the prevalence of CSRCs in MSMs of females was higher than that in males (P < 0.05). The bilateral symmetry presence of CSRCs in MSMs was significant but not in MFPs, MSPs, and MFMs. RGs were predominantly found on the mesiolingual (ML) surface of premolars and the lingual surface of molars. There was a high prevalence of CSRCs in MFPs and MSMs in the Eastern Chinese population, but there was no correlation. The prevalence of CSRCs in MFPs and MSMs differ significantly by gender (P < 0.05).

Radiographic features of anatomic relationship between impacted third molar and inferior alveolar canal on coronal CBCT images: risk factors for nerve injury after tooth extraction.

INTRODUCTION: The present study was aimed to identify the radiographic signs between impacted third molar root and inferior alveolar canal (IAC) on cone-beam CT (CBCT) images as risk factors and prognostic predictors associated with inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage following tooth removal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective clinical study was performed involving 136 patients with 257 impacted lower third molars from January 2013 to December 2014. The neurosensory function of the lower lip and chin was subjectively evaluated and assessed by neurosensory tests before and after surgery. The preoperative CBCT data were retrieved and analyzed to identify the radiographic signs associated with postoperative IAN injury. RESULTS: The overall incidence of IAN injury in our patient cohort was 13.2%. Multiple radiographic features on coronal CBCT images including contact between IAC and root, IAC position relative to root, IAC shape and cortication status were found to be significantly associated with IAN damage (p < 0.05, χ2 test). Furthermore, buccolingual position, teardrop/dumbbell shape and cortication status of IAC were identified as independent prognostic predictors for IAN damage. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that radiographic signs including direct contact between IAC and root, buccal/lingual IAC position relative to root, teardrop/dumbbell shape and cortication absence of the IAC on presurgical CBCT images are associated with high risk of IAN injury and postoperative neurosensory disturbance.

Cone-beam computed tomography evaluation of the distance between the root apex of mandibular molars and the inferior alveolar nerve canal in adults / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@# To evaluate the spatiotemporal relationship between the root apex of mandibular molars and the inferior alveolar nerve canal (IANC) in adults. @*Methods@#Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were collected in 236 patients, and the distances from the root apexes of mandibular molars to the IANC were measured in NNT 4.6 software. The relationship between distance and gender was evaluated. @*Results@#In two-rooted mandibular first molars, the distances from the mesial root and distal root to the IANC were 7.34 ± 2.07 mm and 6.69 ± 2.08 mm, respectively, in males and 6.47 ± 2.22 mm and 5.94 ± 2.11 mm in females. In three-rooted mandibular first molars, the distances from the mesial root, distobuccal root, and distolingual to the IANC were 7.29 ± 1.30 mm, 7.40 ± 2.33 mm, and 9.97 ± 2.19 mm, respectively, in males and 6.08 ± 2.57 mm, 6.35 ± 2.40 mm, and 9.01 ± 2.90 mm, respectively, in females. In one-rooted mandibular second molars, the distance from the root to the IANC was 4.09 ± 1.64 mm in males and 3.89 ± 1.76 mm in females. In two-rooted mandibular second molars, the distances from the mesial root and distal root to the IANC were 5.14 ± 2.08 mm and 4.39 ± 1.85 mm, respectively, in males and 3.78 ± 1.69 mm and 3.24 ± 1.72 mm, respectively, in females. There were no significant with in-gender differences between the left and right side in the distances from the root apexes to the IANC (P>0.05). The distances from the mandibular first molar were greater in males than in females. The longest average distance was from the distolingual root apexes of three-rooted mandibular first molars to the IANC, and the distances were longer from the distobuccal root apexes of three-rooted mandibular first molars to the IANC than from the distal root apexes of two-rooted mandibular first molars to the IANC (P<0.05). There was no within-gender difference in the distances from the root apexes of single-rooted mandibular second molars to the IANC (P>0.05), but the distances in two-rooted mandibular second molars were larger in males than in females (P<0.05). The distances from the root apexes to the IANC were smaller in mandibular second molars than in mandibular first molars (P<0.05). @*Conclusion @#There are significant differences between adult males and females in the distance from the root apex to the IANC for mandibular first molars and two-rooted mandibular second molars. The distances from the root apexes to the IANC were smaller in mandibular second molars than in mandibular first molars.

Topographic relationship between root apex of mesially and horizontally impacted mandibular third molar and lingual plate: cross-sectional analysis using CBCT.

The present study was aimed to determine the topographic relationship between root apex of the mesially and horizontally impacted mandibular third molar and lingual plate of mandible. The original cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data of 364 teeth from 223 patients were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The topographic relationship between root apex and lingual plate on cross-sectional CBCT images was classified as non-contact (99), contact (145) and perforation (120). The cross-sectional morphology of lingual plate at the level of root apex was defined as parallel (28), undercut (38), slanted (29) and round (4). The distribution of topographic relationship between root apex and lingual plate significantly associated with gender, impaction depth, root number and lingual plate morphology. Moreover, the average bone thickness of lingual cortex and distance between root apex and the outer surface of lingual plate were 1.02 and 1.39 mm, respectively. Furthermore, multivariate regression analyses identified impaction depth and lingual plate morphology as the risk factors for the contact and perforation subtypes between root apex and lingual plate. Collectively, our findings reveal the topographic proximity of root apex of impacted mandibular third molar to the lingual plate, which might be associated with intraoperative and postoperative complications during tooth extraction.