root and canal morphology of maxillary first premolar teeth in a ugandan population上颌第一前磨牙根管形态的牙齿在乌干达人口.pdfVIP

ORIGINAL ARTICLE Root and canal morphology of maxillary first premolar teeth in a Ugandan population 1 1 1 2 Charles Mugisha Rwenyonyi , Annet Kutesa , Louis Muwazi , William Buwembo 1Department of Dentistry, 2Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala. Corresponding author Dr. Charles Mugisha Rwenyonyi Department of Dentistry College of Health Sciences, Makerere University P.O.Box 7072 Kampala, Uganda Tel. 256-772-405349 E-mail: mrwenyonyi@chs.mak.ac.ug Running title: Root and canal morphology of maxillary first premolar teeth Field: Endodontics Abstract Aim : To determine the variations in the root and canal morphology of the maxillary first premolar teeth in a Ugandan population. Methodology : Extracted maxillary first premolar teeth (n = 202) were evaluated in this study. The specimens had their pulp chambers de-roofed. They were decalcified in nitric acid and made transparent with methyl salicylate. Indian ink was injected into the root canals to display their configuration. Results : One hundred and forty eight (73.3%) of the specimens had two roots, of which 16.9% (n = 25) had fused roots. About 26.7% (n = 54) of the specimens were single rooted. Eleven (20.4%) of the single rooted specimens had one canal of either Vertucci type I, III, V or VII configuration while 79.6% (n = 43) of the specimens had two canals of either Vertucci type II, IV or VI configuration. The two-rooted specimens exhibited Vertucci type IV and VIII canal configuration: 96.6% and 3.4%, respectively. The single rooted teeth had a higher prevalence of lateral canals, canal intercommunications and multiple apical foramina as compared to the two-rooted specimens. Conclusion : The maxillary first premolar teeth in this Ugandan population showed a higher prevalence of two-root morphology with majority of the roots having Vertucci type IV