ANALYSIS OF THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DENTAL ANATOMY IN AN ARGENTINIAN POPULATION

Abstract: Objectives: To observe and describe the external and internal dental anatomy configuration of central and lateral incisors, canines, first and second premolars, and first and second molars in both jaws in an Argentinian population.Materials and methods: A retrospective, observational, transversal and descriptive study was planned and executed. Inclusion criteria: Tooth with developed apex, saved in a CBCT scan of a native Argentine. Exclusion criteria: Third molar, tooth with endodontic treatment, crown destruction below the cementoenamel junction, internal or external resorption, canal obliteration, severe curvature of the root. Bilateralism, anatomic symmetry, number of roots and root canals and Vertucci’s classification or Vertucci’s Additional classification were recorded. 95% confidence intervals (CI95) were estimated and the Chi-square test or exact Fisher’s test, as appropriate, was used (p<0.05, significant). Results: The study included 891 women and 559 men (aged 9-89). Of the total of 19584 examined teeth, 10825 were included in this research study, with bilateralism in 4168 pairs (77%; CI95 76%-78%) and symmetry in 87% (CI95 86%-88%). 15552 roots and 19067 root canals were analyzed. In both dental arches for anterior teeth and premolars, one root prevailed (>50%), while in maxillary molars three roots prevailed (90%; CI95 88%-91%), and in lower molars, two roots (88%; CI95 87%-90%). A single root canal (>55%) prevailed in most teeth, except in some cases: in maxillary first premolars it prevailed two root canals (85%; CI95 83%-88%); in maxillary first molars, four (68%; CI95 64%-71%) and in maxillary second molars and in both mandibular molars, three (>60%). 99% (CI95 99%-99%) of the observations corresponded to Vertucci’s configurations, and 1% (CI95 1%-1%) to the Vertucci’s Additional classification. Conclusions: The internal and external anatomical configurations of the teeth of both jaws in an Argentinian population were described. This knowledge is essential to perform a successful endodontic treatment.