• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2007

The C-shaped canal system is an anatomical variation mostly seen in mandibular second molars, although it can also occur in maxillary and other mandibular molars. The main anatomical feature of C-shaped canals is the presence of fins or web connecting the individual root canals. The complexity of C-shaped canals prevents these canals from being cleaned, shaped, and obturated effectively during root canal therapy, and sometimes it leads to an iatrogenic perforation from the extravagant preparation. The purpose of this study was to provide further knowledge of the anatomical configuration and the minimal thickness of dentinal wall according to the level of the root. Thirty extracted mandibular second molars with fused roots and longitudinal grooves on lingual or buccal surface of the root were collected from a native Korean population. The photo images and radiographs from buccal, lingual, apical direction were taken. After access cavity was prepared, teeth were placed in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution for 2 hours to dissolve the organic tissue of the root surface and from the root canal system. After bench dried and all the teeth were embedded in a self-curing resin. Each block was sectioned using a microtome (Accutom-50, Struers, Denmark) at interval of 1 mm. The sectioned surface photograph was taken using a digital camera (Coolpix 995, Nikon, Japan) connected to the microscope. 197 images were evaluated for canal configurations and the minimal thickness of dentinal wall between canal and external wall using 'Root Thickness Gauge Program' designed with Visual Basic. The results were as follows : 1. At the orifice level of all teeth, the most frequent observed configuration was Melton's Type C I (73%), however the patterns were changed to type C II and C III when the sections were observed at the apical third. On the other hand, the type C III was observed at the orifice level of only 2 teeth but this type could be seen at apical region of the rest of the teeth. 2. The C-shaped canal showed continuous and semi-colon shape at the orifice level, but at the apical portion of the canal there was high possibility of having 2 or 3 canals 3. Lingual wall was thinner than buccal wall at coronal, middle, apical thirds of root but there was no statistical differences.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.32-44
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of implant connection type on marginal bone loss (MBL) and to analyze the factors that affect MBL. This study focuses on single implants planted in the upper and lower first molar area. Materials and Methods: A total of 87 implants from 68 patients were tracked for a period over 5 years. There were 57 external connection type (EC) implants and 30 internal connection type (IC) implants in 38 males and 30 females. The MBL and EA were measured from intraoral radiograph images taken after 5 years at most. Results: Significant difference in MBL between EC and IC type was observed in patients without GBR or diabetes. Patients without GBR exhibited an MBL of -0.065 ± 0.859 mm in EC type and -0.627 ± 0.639 mm in IC type (P = 0.025). Using multiple regression analysis, a statistically significant negative correlation was observed between MBL and conditions including implant-abutment connection type (β = -0.303), diabetes (β = -0.113), emergence angle > 30° (β = -0.234), and age (β = -0.776). Conclusion: Within this results, IC type implants had less MBL than EC type, and implant prosthesis with emergence angle over 30° showed greater MBL. To minimize the MBL of the implant and ensure implant stability, careful consideration should be given to the EA of implant prosthesis and its connection type.