Prevalence of one root canal in fused buccal roots of human upper second molars

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze, in vitro, through micros- copic and radiographic analyses, the prevalence of one root canal in fused buccal roots of human upper second molars. For this purpose, 70 specimens were selected. The crowns of the teeth were removed and the root canals were explored with a #10 K-type file. Following radiographic examination, teeth presenting one root canal were cross-sectioned at the median area and at 3 mm before the apex. The fragment obtained at the median area was observed both coronally and apically through an optical microscope in a 40X magnification, in order to confirm the number of canals by comparing with the radiographic analysis. The results are as follows: 75.71% of the fused buccal roots presented 2 root ca- nals, while 24.29 presented a single canal, when radiographic analysis was proceeded. The microscopic analysis showed that 84.29% of the teeth presented 2 canals, while only 15.71 presented a single canal. Key words: upper second molar, internal anatomy, root canals, ra- diographic analysis, microscopic analysis.