Evaluation of Dentin Thickness around Second Mesiobuccal Canal in Maxillary First Molar Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)

Abstract

Background and aim: Maxillary first molars exhibit a variety of anatomies in the mesiobuccal root, with a concave distal root that limits the preparation of the canal to prevent strip perforation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dentin thickness around the second mesiobuccal canal (MB2) in maxillary first molar using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods: The present retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 CBCT images of patients referred to Radiology Centers of Urmia (Iran) between 2017 and 2019. The first and second mesiobuccal canals (MB1 and MB2) were both detected and the dentin thickness around the MB2 canal in the mesial, distal, and palatal surfaces and its distance to MB1 at three cross-sections were evaluated by two endodontists. Results: In all three sections the lowest dentin thickness was in distal wall, and the highest was in palatal wall; this difference was statistically significant at all sections (p Conclusion:The small thickness of distal indicates more conservative considerations in endodontic and prostodontic treatments . The CBCT seems to be an effective and noninvasive method in examining root and canal morphology and may be used as a preoperative radiography to assess the dentin thickness in danger zones to prevent iatrogenic errors.

Keywords

• cone beam computed tomography (cbct)
• dentin
• maxillary molar
• root canal