• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the buccolingual curvature at the apical one third in type II mesial canals of mandibular molars using the radius and angle of curvature. Materials and Methods: Total 100 mandibular molars were selected. Following an endodontic access in the teeth, their distal roots were removed. #15 H- or K-files (Dentsply Maillefer) were inserted into the mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals of the teeth. Radiographs of the teeth were taken for the proximal view. Among them, type II canals were selected and divided into two subgroups, IIa and IIb. In type IIa, two separate canals merged into one canal before reaching the apex and in type IIb, two separate canals merged into one canal within the apical foramen. The radius and angle of curvature of specimens were examined. Results: In type II, mean radius of curvature in mesiolingual and mesiobuccal canals were 2.82 mm and 3.58 mm, respectively. The radius of the curvature of mesiolingual canals were significantly smaller than that of mesiobuccal canals in type II, and especially in type IIa. However, there were no statistically significant differences in radius of curvature between mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals in type IIb and there were no significant differences in angle of curvature between type IIa and IIb. Conclusion: In this study, type II mesial canals of mandibular molars showed severe curvature in the proximal view. Especially, mesiolingual canals of type IIa had more abrupt curvature than mesiobuccal canals at the apical one third.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.37.1-37.9
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) in the mesiobuccal roots of root canal-treated maxillary molars. Materials and Methods: One thousand cone-beam computed tomography images of the teeth were examined by 2 dental specialists in oral radiology and endodontics. The internal anatomy of the roots, Vertucci's classification, quality of root canal treatment, and presence of missed canals were evaluated; additionally, the correlation between these variables and AP was ascertained. Results: A total of 1,000 roots (692 first molars and 308 second molars) encompassing 1,549 canals were assessed, and the quality of the root canal filling in the majority (56.9%) of the canals was satisfactory. AP was observed in 54.4% of the teeth. A mesiolingual canal in the mesiobuccal root (MB2 canal) was observed in 54.9% of the images, and the majority (83.5%) of these canals were not filled. Significant associations were observed between the presence of an MB2 canal and the quality of the root canal filling and the presence of AP. Conclusions: AP was detected in more than half of the images. The MB2 canals were frequently missed or poorly filled.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2007

Purpose: To examine the danger zone of mesial root of mandibular first molar of patient without extraction using CBCT (cone-beam computed tomography) to avoid the risk of root perforation. Materials and Methods: 20 mandibular first molars without caries and restorations were collected, CT images were obtained by CBCT ($PSR9000N^{TM}$, Asahi Roentgen Co., Japan), reformed and analyzed by V-work 5.0 (CyberMed Inc., Korea), Distance between canal orifice and furcation was measured. In cross sectional images at 3, 4 and 5 mm below the canal orifice, distal wall thickness of mesiobuccal canal (MB-D), distal wall thickness of mesiolingual canal (ML-D), distal wall thickness of central part (C-D), mesial wall thickness of mesiobuccal canal (MB-M) and mesial wall thickness of mesiolingual canal (ML-M) were measured, Results: The mean distance between the canal orifice and the furcation of the roots is 2.40 mm, Distal wall is found to be thinner than mesial wall. Mean dentinal wall thickness of distal wall is about 1 mm, The wall thickness is thinner as the distance from the canal orifice is farther. But significant differences are not noted between 4 mm and 5 mm in MB-D and C-D, MB-D is thinner than ML-D although the differences is not significant. Conclusion: The present study confirmed the anatomical weakness of distal surface of the coronal part of the mesial roots of mandibular first molar by CBCT and provided an anatomical guide line of wall thickness during endodontic treatment.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.373-382
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• 2021

Purpose: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) reconstructions were analysed to elucidate factors affecting the anatomical relationship between tooth roots and the mandibular canal(MC). Materials and Methods: Images of 300 volumetric tomography scans of patients aged between 20 and 79 years old (167 women and 133 men) were analysed. The mean distances between 2,053 dental root apices and the internal border of the MC were obtained by measuring the horizontal and vertical distances on coronal CBCT images. The actual distance was then calculated mathematically with the Pythagorean formula. The statistical significance of differences between men and women was assessed using the Mann-Whitney test. Correlations with patient age were evaluated with the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results: The mean distances ranged from 2.17 mm, for single right third molar roots in women, to 8.02 mm for single left third molar mesiolingual roots in men. The mean distances measured for the mandibular right second molar mesial roots and the right second premolar roots were larger in men than in women. Age showed a significant positive correlation with the measured distances for mesial and distal roots of the first and second molar on both sides and the right third molar, mesiolingual roots of the left third molar, and single roots of the right third molar. Conclusion: The root-to-mandibular canal distance depended on age and the type of tooth. In 2 root types, this distance was impacted by sex.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2013

During root canal preparation procedures, the potential for instrument breakage is always present. When instrument breakage occurs, it leads to anxiety of the clinician and as well as a metallic obstruction of the canal which hinders further cleaning and shaping. Separated instruments must always be attempted for retrieval and if retrieval is not possible bypass should be tried. With the increased use of nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments the incidence of separated instruments has increased. A considerable amount of research has been done to understand the various factors related to the fracture of NiTi instruments to minimize its occurrence. This paper presents a review of the literature regarding the fracture of NiTi instruments and also describes a case report showing the use of a modified 18-guage needle and cyanoacrylate glue to retrieve a separated NiTi instrument from the mesiolingual canal of a mandibular first molar.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this randomized, controlled, prospective clinical study was to evaluate patients' intraoperative discomfort during root canal preparations in which either multi-file rotary (Mtwo) or single-file reciprocating (Reciproc) systems were used. Materials and Methods: Fifty-five adult patients, aged between 25 and 69 years old, with irreversible pulpitis or pulp necrosis participated in this study. Either the mesiobuccal or the distobuccal canals for maxillary molars and either the mesiobuccal or the mesiolingual canals for mandibular molars were randomly chosen to be instrumented with Mtwo multi-file rotary or Reciproc single-file reciprocating systems. Immediately after each canal instrumentation under anesthesia, patient discomfort was assessed using a 1 - 10 visual analog scale (VAS), ranging from 'least possible discomfort' (1) to 'greatest possible discomfort' (10). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine significant differences at p < 0.05. Results: Little intraoperative discomfort was found in all cases. No statistically significant differences in intraoperative discomfort between the 2 systems were found (p = 0.660). Conclusions: Root canal preparation with multi-file rotary or single-file reciprocating systems had similar and minimal effects on patients' intraoperative discomfort.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 1991

A model system was used which enabled the same root canal system to be measured before and after coronal flaring of 51 extracted mandibular molars. The concavity of the distal surface of the mesial root was measured and the amount of reduction was compared after coronal flaring using step-back flared preparation, Gates-Glidden dirll or ultrasonic system(Quick-$\varepsilon$) at the furcation and apical 3mm from the furcation. The results were as follows: 1. The mean concavity of mesial root of manchbular molar was $0.73{\pm}0.27mm$ at the bifurcation and $0.65{\pm}0.23mm$ at the 3.0mm apical from the bifurcation. 2. The thickness of the root canal wall of the mesiobuccal canal was $1.08{\pm}0.26mm$ at the bifurcation and $1.00{\pm}0.23mm$ at the 3.0mm apical from the bifurcation. 3. The thickness of the root canal wall of the mesiolingual was $1.09{\pm}0.21mm$ at the bifurcation and $0.98{\pm}0.29mm$ at the 3.0mm apical from the bifurcation. 4. In the amount of reduction at the furcation and at the 3.0mm apical from the furcation there was no statistically significant difference between the step-back preparation and Gates-Glidden drill preparation, and ultrasonic preparation(P>0.05).

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.695-706
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ratio of 4 root canals and the incidence of Radix Entomolaris in mandibular first molars and find out anatomical difference according to number of roots by analysis of cone-beam CT images in a Korean population. Materials and Methods: Total 142 images containing mandibular first molars were selected from CBCT images taken from 2013 to 2017 at Gangneung-Wonju National University Dental Hospital. After reconstructing the image with reference to the Cemento-enamel junction, the root canals were detected at the bottom of the pulpal floor and the number of roots and root canals were analyzed. Various lengths and MLO-DLO-DBO angle were measured between each canal orifices and the external contour line of the tooth, and the distolingual canal wall thickness was measured. Student t-test was used for statistical significance. Results: Among the total 142 teeth, 4 canals were 42.2% and Radix Entomolaris was 25.3%. As the results of measuring various lengths and the angle, the distolingual canal orifice in Group 2(with Radix Entomolaris) tends to deviate to the lingual side than the mesiolingual canal orifice and to the mesial side than the distobuccal canal orifice. Besides, thickness of the distolingual canal wall in Group 2(with Radix Entomolaris) was significantly thinner than that of Group 1 at every level except pulpal floor level. Conclusion: It is necessary to consider the difference according to the presence of Radix Entomolaris in endodontic treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.446-453
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to evaluate the shaping abilities of four different rotary nickel-titanium instruments with anticurvature motion to prepare root canal at danger zone by measuring the change of dentin thickness in order to have techniques of safe preparation of canals with nickel-titanium files. Mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals of forty mesial roots of extracted human lower molars were instrumented using the crown-down technique with ProFile, $GT^{TM}$ Rotary file, Quantec file and $ProTaper^{TM}$. In each root, one canal was prepared with a straight up-and-down motion and the other canal was with an anticurvature motion. Canals were instrumented until apical foramens were up to size of 30 by one operator. The muffle system was used to evaluate the root canal preparation. After superimposing the pre- and post-instrumentation canal. change in root dentin thickness was measured at the inner and outer sides of the canal at 1. 3, and 5 mm levels from the furcation. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Root dentin thickness at danger zone was significantly thinner than that at safe zone at all levels (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the change of root dentin thickness between the straight up-and-down and the anticurvature motions at both danger and safe zones in all groups (p > 0.05). ProTaper removed significantly more dentin than other files especially at furcal 3 mm level of danger and safe zones (p < 0.05) Therefore, it was concluded that anticurvature motion with nickel-titanium rotary instruments does not seem to be effective in danger zone of lower molars.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital periapical radiography in the detection of mesial root perforations of mandibular molars. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, 48 mandibular molars were divided into 4 groups. First, the mesial canals of all the 48 teeth were endodontically prepared. In 2 groups (24 teeth each), the roots were axially perforated in the mesiolingual canal 1-3 mm below the furcation region, penetrating the root surface ("root perforation"). Then, in one of these 2 groups, the mesial canals were filled with gutta-percha and AH26 sealer. Mesial canals in one of the other 2 groups without perforation (control groups) were filled with the same materials. The CBCT and periapical radiographs with 3 different angulations were evaluated by 2 oral and maxillofacial radiologists. The specificity and sensitivity of the two methods were calculated, and P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of CBCT scans in the detection of obturated root canal perforations were 79% and 96%, respectively, and in the case of three-angled periapical radiographs, they were 92% and 100%, respectively. In non-obturated root canals, the sensitivity and specificity of CBCT scans in perforation detection were 92% and 100%, respectively, and for three-angled periapical radiographs, they were 50% and 96%, respectively. Conclusion: For perforation detection in filled-root canals, periapical radiography with three different horizontal angulations would be trustworthy, but it is recommended that CBCT be used for perforation detection before obturating root canals.