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Age-related changes in the morphology of the root canal system of mandibular first molars: a micro-CT study

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate changes on root canal morphology in patients with different ages using micro-CT technology.

Materials and methods

Mandibular first molars (n = 150) were scanned at a pixel size of 13.68 µm, categorized into 3 groups according to patient’s age and analyzed regarding configuration, orifices, apical foramina, root length, canal volume, and surface area. Morphological 2D and 3D parameters were evaluated in distal roots with Type I configuration (n = 109) as well as the morphology of isthmuses Types I and III in 68 mesial roots. One-way ANOVA post hoc Tukey and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used for statistical analyses (α = 5%).

Results

A great variation in the canal configuration was found. No difference was observed in roots’ length (p > 0.05). Canal volume reduced with age (p < 0.05), while surface area increased (p < 0.05) in patients ≤ 30 years. There was no difference in canal/root length, area, and from foramen to the apex in distal roots with Type I configuration (p > 0.05), but 2D and 3D parameters significantly decreased with age (p < 0.05). Overall, the diameter of the isthmuses’ roof reduced with age (p < 0.05). In patients ≥ 31 years with Type III isthmus the distance from the isthmus floor to the foramen of the mesiolingual canal also decreased (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Overall, the internal morphology of the mesial roots of mandibular first molars was more affected by aging than distal canals. The most relevant tested parameter that significantly reduced in both roots was the volume of the root canal systems.

Clinical relevance

A detailed evaluation of fine anatomical aspects of the root canal system of mandibular first molars of patients with different ages showed that the internal morphology of mesial roots is more affected by aging than distal canals.

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Data availability

Data available on request from the authors.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University Research Fund (Project PYO.DIS.1904.20.008).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Private Practice, Istanbul, Turkey

    Sabiha Gülçin Alak

  2. Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey

    Ali Keleş & Cangül Keskin

  3. Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey

    Ali Keleş

  4. Department of Endodontics, Faculdade de Medicina Dentária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Jorge N. R. Martins

  5. Unidade de Investigação em Ciências Orais e Biomédicas (UICOB), Faculdade de Medicina Dentária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Jorge N. R. Martins

  6. Centro de Estudo de Medicina Dentária Baseada na Evidência (CEMDBE), Faculdade de Medicina Dentária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Jorge N. R. Martins

  7. Dental Specialty Center, Brazilian Military Police, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Marco Aurélio Versiani

Authors
  1. Sabiha Gülçin Alak
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  2. Ali Keleş
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  4. Jorge N. R. Martins
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  5. Marco Aurélio Versiani
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Contributions

(1) Sabiha Gülçin Alak: Investigation, methodology, and formal analysis (equal)

(2) Ali Keleş: Conceptualization, funding acquisition, investigation, methodology, formal analysis, supervision, writing, review, and editing (lead)

(3) Cangül Keskin: Investigation, methodology, and formal analysis (equal)

(4) Jorge N. R. Martins: writing, review, and editing (supporting)

(5) Marco A. Versiani: Conceptualization, formal analysis, writing, review, and editing (lead)

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Keleş.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

This research was approved by the local ethics committee (OMU KAEK-2020/334).

Informed consent statement

An informed consent was obtained from all patients before the experimental procedures.

Conflict of interest

Authors deny any conflicts of interest.

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Alak, S.G., Keleş, A., Keskin, C. et al. Age-related changes in the morphology of the root canal system of mandibular first molars: a micro-CT study. Clin Oral Invest 27, 4667–4675 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-023-05093-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-023-05093-0

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