Mesiobuccal root canal anatomy of Korean maxillary first and second molars by cone-beam computed tomography

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the types of canal configurations and the incidence of a second mesiobuccal (MB2) canal in Korean maxillary molar mesiobuccal (MB) roots by analyzing cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images. Study design. Three-dimensional CBCT images of 458 maxillary first molars and 467 second molars from 276 Korean patients were analyzed to determine the incidence of an MB2 canal, the types of canal configurations, and the correlations between the incidence of an MB2 canal and age, gender, and tooth position. Results. The incidence of 2-canaled MB roots was 71.8% in first molars and 42.2% in second molars, with the most common configurations being Weine types III and II. The frequency of an MB2 canal decreased with age in both molars (P < .05). Conclusions. Types III and II canal configurations were the most prevalent in the 2-canaled MB roots of Korean maxillary molars. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011; 111: 785-791)