Root and canal morphology of maxillary first premolars in a Turkish population

Background/purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate root and canal morphology in maxillary first premolars in a Turkish population. Materials and methods: We collected 653 maxillary premolars from patients who came for extractions needed for several reasons, such as caries or prosthodontic or orthodontic treatment. The extracted teeth were thoroughly washed and cleaned to remove blood, saliva, or debris. The cleaned samples were then stored in normal saline till further experiment was carried out. A sample of maxillary first premolars was subjected to visual examination and digital radiography to determine the number of roots and root canals and their types. Results: Of the 653 teeth, 295 (45.2%) had one, 351 (53.7%) had two, and three molars (1.1%) had three roots. Of these, 7.8% (51 teeth) had single canal (Type I canal), 90.7% (592 teeth) had two canals (Types II and III), and 1.5% (10 teeth) had three canals (Type IV). Conclusion: Turkish maxillary first premolars are mainly two rooted and predominantly have Type III canal morphology. Copyright (C) 2012, Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.