Root Canal Morphology of Maxillary Second Molars according to Age and Gender in a Selected Iranian Population: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Evaluation

INTRODUCTION: This study sought to assess root canal morphology of maxillary second molars regarding age and gender in an Iranian population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Totally, 157 maxillary second molars of patients presenting to a radiology clinic were evaluated on CBCT scans. Tooth length, number of roots, root fusion, coronal and sagittal root deviation, number of canals per root, prevalence of second mesiobuccal canal, root canal morphology according to the Vertucci’s classification and the correlation of these variables with age and gender were evaluated. Data were analyzed using the Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis and Fisher’s exact tests. RESULTS: Of 157 teeth, 98 belonged to females and 59 to males. The mean tooth length was significantly greater in males than in females (P=0.002) and it was shorter in 50-60 years old group. The rate of root fusion was 18.6%. Distobuccal and palatal roots were mainly straight in both sagittal and coronal planes while mesiobuccal roots mostly had a distal-buccal deviation; 67.5% of the teeth had four canals. Number of canals was significantly correlated with gender and was higher in males (P<0.05). The most prevalent canal type was type VI in second mesiobuccal, and type V in palatal and distobuccal canals. The most common types in mesiobuccal canal were types I, VI and II, respectively. In the remaining two roots, type I was the most common. CONCLUSION: Root and canal morphology of the maxillary second molars in Iranian population showed features different from those in other populations.