INTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF THE LOWER INCISIVE ROOT CANAL BASED ON TWO CLASSIFICATIONS: MICROTOMOGRAPHY STUDY

Abstract

To investigate the root canal configurations of mandibular incisors (MI) using Vertucci (1984) and Ahmed et al. (2017) classification, accessed by micro computed tomography (?CT). A total of one hundred and sixty-five human permanent MIs were scanned using a high-resolution ?CT. Two examiners classified the samples based on the coding systems of Vertucci and Ahmed et al. The Kappa coefficient was used to assess the degree of agreement between examiners. The most significant proportion of MIs had a single root canal along the entire root (52.1%). Type III (1-2-1) Vertucci and 1 MI 1-2-1 Ahmed et al. were the most common type of root canal in 2-canals incisors (20%). In the apical third, the presence of one, two and three canals were found in 81.8%, 15.2% and 3% of the samples, respectively. In the cervical and middle thirds, 1, 2 and 3 root canals were found in 86%, 12.2% and 1.8%, respectively. Ahmed et al. classification managed to classify the entire studied sample, and 11 teeth (6.66%) did not fit the Vertucci classification. Ahmed et al. classification describes root and canal configurations in a more complete and practical way compared to Vertucci classification and should be encouraged in ?CT internal dental anatomy studies.