Gender difference and root canal morphology in mandibular premolars: A cone-beam computed tomography study in an Iranian population

BACKGROUND: Mandibular premolars are of the most difficult teeth to treat endodontically. AIMS: To compare the root canal morphology of mandibular premolars between two genders in an Iranian population. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Totally, 230 cone-beam computed tomography images of the mandibles belonged to 115 males and 115 females were evaluated in the three spatial planes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The total number of roots and canals in the mandibular premolars was counted, and the difference between males and females were analyzed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. The significance level was set as P < 0.05. RESULTS: The majority of mandibular first and second premolars had one root (85.7% and 94.8%, respectively) and one canal (63.9% and 78.3%, respectively). The number of roots in the mandibular first premolars had statistically significant difference between two genders (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference between two genders in the number of roots (P = 0.208) and canals (P = 0.498) in the mandibular second premolars. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, the root canal morphology in the mandibular first premolars had statistically significant difference between two genders.