Assessment of Root Canal Morphology of Maxillary Premolars: A CBCT Study Exploring Age and Gender Variations

Abstract

Abstract Background: In complex teeth like maxillary premolars, endodontic treatment success depends on a complete comprehension of root canal anatomy. While mandibular premolars have been extensively studied, there is little data on the root canal anatomy of maxillary premolars. This study aimed to explore the root canal morphology of maxillary premolars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, considering age and gender variations. Methods: From 500 patient CBCT scans, 1,230 maxillary premolar teeth were evaluated. The sample was divided by gender and age (10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, and 61 years and older). Ahmed et al. classification system was used to record root canal morphology. Results: The most frequent classifications for right maxillary 1st premolars were 2MPM1 B1 L1 (39.03%) and 1MPM1 (2.81%), while the most frequent classifications for right maxillary 2nd premolars were 2MPM1 B1 L1 (39.08%) and 1MPM1 (17.85%). Most of the premolars typically had two roots (left maxillary first premolars: 81.5%, left maxillary second premolars: 82.7%, right maxillary first premolars: 74.4%, right maxillary second premolars: 75.7%). Left and right maxillary 1st premolars for classes 1MPM1 and 1MPM1-2-1 showed significant gender differences. For classifications 1MPM1 and 1MPM1-2-1, age-related changes were seen in the left and right maxillary first premolars. Conclusion: The research findings offer significant new knowledge of the complex and diverse root canal anatomy of maxillary premolars. The results highlight the significance of CBCT imaging for accurate treatment planning and clinical decision-making. Understanding the differences in root canal anatomy attributed to age and gender may facilitate endodontic treatment outcomes.