Analysis of root curvatures in mandibular premolars
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24265/xc20s771Keywords:
Tooth Root, Premolar, Panoramic Radiograph, EndodonticsAbstract
Objectives: To analyze root curvature morphology in mandibular premolars using a digital tracing method applied to panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 480 mandibular premolars were evaluated from 120 panoramic radiographs obtained from the imaging department database at the Academic Unit of Dentistry of the Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit. Root curvature measurements were performed via digital tracing using ImageJ software. Angulation, anatomical location, and orientation of the root curvatures were evaluated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc test. Results: Straight roots were observed in 50.2% of the premolars, while 49.8% exhibited some degree of curvature. Distal curvatures were the most frequent (43.5%), followed by mesial curvatures (6.3%). Most curvatures were located in the apical third. Moderate curvatures accounted for 64.4% of the cases, followed by mild (31.8%) and severe (3,8%) curvatures. Statistically significant differences were found among the evaluated root thirds, primarily between the apical third and both the middle and cervical thirds (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Mandibular premolars exhibit high variability in root curvature, with a predominance of moderate curvatures that are distally oriented and located in the apical third. These findings highlight the importance of proper diagnostic evaluation to optimize endodontic treatment planning and reduce operative complications.
Downloads
References
Schäfer E, Diez C, Hoppe W, Tepel J. Roentgenographic investigation of frequency and degree of canal curvatures in human permanent teeth. J Endod. 2002;28(3):211–216. doi: 10.1097/00004770-200203000-00017
Schneider SW. A comparison of canal preparations in straight and curved root canals. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1971;32(2):271–275. doi: 10.1016/0030-4220(71)90230-1
Jafarzadeh H, Abbott PV. Dilaceration: review of an endodontic challenge. J Endod. 2007;33(9):1025–1030. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2007.04.013
Hamasha AA, Al-Khateeb T, Darwazeh A. Prevalence of dilaceration in Jordanian adults. Int Endod J. 2002;35(11):910–912. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2591.2002.00593.x
Estrela C, Bueno MR, Sousa-Neto MD, Pécora JD. Method for determination of root curvature radius using cone-beam computed tomography images. Braz Dent J. 2008;19(2):114–118. doi: 10.1590/s0103-64402008000200005
Hong X, Zhang R, Pan H, Zhang W, Hu T. Lingual radicular groove in a mandibular premolar: case report and literature review. Int J Morphol. 2013;31(1):338–344. doi: 10.4067/S0717-95022013000100052
Patel S, Durack C, Abella F, Shemesh H, Roig M, Lemberg K. Cone beam computed tomography in endodontics – a review. Int Endod J. 2015;48(1):3–15. doi: 10.1111/iej.12270
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Luis Roberto López Valdez, Miguel Villegas Vivanco, Jaime Fabián Gutiérrez-Rojo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Los autores/as conservarán sus derechos de autor y garantizarán a la revista el derecho de primera publicación de su obra, el cuál estará simultáneamente sujeto a la Licencia de reconocimiento de Creative Commons que permite a terceros compartir la obra siempre que se indique su autor y su primera publicación esta revista.
- Los autores/as podrán adoptar otros acuerdos de licencia no exclusiva de distribución de la versión de la obra publicada (p. ej.: depositarla en un archivo telemático institucional o publicarla en un volumen monográfico) siempre que se indique la publicación inicial en esta revista.
- Se permite y recomienda a los autores/as difundir su obra a través de Internet (p. ej.: en archivos telemáticos institucionales o en su página web) posterior al proceso de aprobación del manuscrito, lo cual puede producir intercambios interesantes y aumentar las citas de la obra publicada.
