Background: Endodontic treatments usually fail due to the lack of precise cleaning and shaping of the root canals, especially in the apical third region. This can be due to the changes in the root canal geometry along the length of the root canal. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the root canal cross-sectional shapes of maxillary and mandibular incisors and canines.
Methods: Cone Beam Computed Tomography radiographs of 330 patients were selected for the study. Root canal cross-sectional shapes of maxillary and mandibular central and lateral incisors and canines with complete root development were examined at the coronal, middle, and the apical third at 1 mm above the apical foramen.
Results: It was observed that root canal cross-sectional shapes changed from coronal to the apical region. In maxillary central and lateral incisors, the circular shape was predominant in all three sections, while in maxillary canine, the dominant shape was oval in coronal section and circular in middle and apical section. The circular shape was dominant in mandibular incisors, but flat canals were also very common. Most commonly, mandibular canines in the coronal cross-section had an oval shape, whereas, in the middle and apical region, the circular shape was common.
Conclusion: A thorough knowledge of the root canal anatomy is necessary for proper instrument selection to avoid endodontic mishaps and deliver quality treatment.
Key words: Circular root canals, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), oval root canals, root canal preparation, root canal cross-sectional shape
|
