Evaluation of the Ideal Horizontal X-Ray Beam Angulation to Accurately Identify Two Separate Canals in Maxillary First Premolars—A Retrospective Clinical Study Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in an Austrian Subpopulation

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Intraoral (IO) radiographs are critical for endodontic diagnostics, yet conventional orthoradial imaging often results in superimposition, limiting the visibility of individual root canals. Maxillary first premolars pose challenges due to their anatomical characteristics and positioning within the dental arch. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data to determine the horizontal X-ray beam angulations for maxillary first premolars at which root canals overlap and neighboring tooth superimposition occur, providing clinically relevant guidance for optimizing IO radiographic techniques. Methods: CBCT scans from 85 patients were analyzed using ImageJ software to measure the angles at which maxillary first premolar root canals overlap or become obscured by adjacent teeth. The mean angles for canal overlap and neighboring tooth superimposition were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 29.0, and the level of significance was set to 5%. Results: The mean angle for root canal overlap was 93.56° (±10.08). The angles at which neighboring teeth began to superimpose were 124.38° (±9.91) for the distal contour of the canine and 63.46° (±9.38) for the mesial root contour of the second premolar. No significant differences were observed between apical and coronal measurements for root canal overlap but tapering of the roots led to significant differences in neighboring tooth superimposition (p Conclusions: A mesial beam shift within a calculated safe corridor (98.5–129.5°) optimizes canal separation without superimposition from adjacent teeth. For ideal visualization, a mesial angulation close to 40° is recommended. These findings support improved IO radiographic techniques while minimizing the risk of retakes in adherence to the ALARA principle.

Keywords

• beam angulation
• intraoral radiographs
• maxillary
• premolar
• tube shift
• X-ray