Prevalencia del conducto medio mesial en primeros molares inferiores permanentes mediante evaluación tomográfica computarizada de haz cónico disponibles en el departamento de imagenología de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Cuenca. 2015-2023

Abstract

Introduction: Generally, the lower first molar presents three root canals (CR): two mesial (M) and one distal (D); however, it may present an additional RC in the distal root, an isthmus within the mesial root, or a third canal in that root known as the mesial medial canal (MMC). Objective: To determine the prevalence of the MMC in permanent lower first molars evaluated through Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) available in the Imaging Department of the School of Dentistry at the University of Cuenca (UC) during the period from 2015 to 2023. Materials and Methods: The analyzed CBCTs were 517 (1034 teeth); to improve spatial resolution, the Zoom Reconstruction function was used, establishing a voxel of 160 μm and a field of view (FOV) of 50 mm x 50 mm. The image was oriented in the three planes: axial, sagittal, and coronal, according to the longitudinal axis of the mesial root, and in the axial cut, an initial path was traced from the cervical third to the apical third to determine its presence or absence; in case of its presence, the molar in which it was located was established. Results: The prevalence of the MMC was 11.22%, with the tooth 3.6 having the highest prevalence. Conclusions: The prevalence according to the participants' sex did not show a statistically significant difference, but regarding age, the results showed significantly different data, with the younger group having the highest prevalence.