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Root canal system in the mesiobuccal root of the maxillary first molar: an in vitro comparison study of computed tomography and histology

¹ Dental School of Vienna, Clinical Department of Conservative Dentistry, University of Vienna, Austria; ² Medical School of Vienna, Department for Radiodiagnostics, University of Vienna, Austria; ³ Research Laboratory of the Dental School of Vienna, University of Vienna, Austria; ⁴ Head of Clinical Department of Conservative Dentistry, Dental School of Vienna, University of Vienna, Austria

*Correspondence to: Andreas Eder, Dental School of Vienna, University of Vienna, Department for Conservative Dentistry, Waehringerstrasse 25a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Email: andreas.eder{at}meduniwien.ac.at

Received 29 October 2003; revised 21 July 2005; accepted 31 August 2005

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate a new diagnostic approach to the examination of the canal configuration of the mesiobuccal root of the maxillary first molar.

Materials and methods: High-resolution computed tomography (CT) was compared with histology in vitro. There were 152 teeth investigated and classified according to Weine and Vertucci.

Results: CT describes the exact canal configuration, verifying information identical to histology, and thus serving as the "gold standard" in vitro. With regard to canal position, 9 (5.92%) of the teeth examined were Vertucci type 1, 48 (31.58%) were Vertucci type 2, 91 (59.87%) were Vertucci type 4, 1 (0.66%) was Vertucci type 5, 1 (0.66%) was Vertucci type 6. Of the 152 teeth examined, 3 (1.97%) could not be classified using Weine, 2 (1.31%) could not be classified according to either Weine or Vertucci, and no Vertucci types 3, 7 or 8 were identified.

Conclusions: CT offers complete information on the number and configuration of root canals. As the root canal configuration of the adult does not change rapidly, CT investigations can be used for multiple subsequent treatments.

Keywords: maxillary first molar; CT; histology; canal configuration; in vitro