Root Dentine Thickness and Concavity Depth in Mandibular Molars: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Population Study

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of the present study were to evaluate dentine thickness and concavity depth below the furcation level of the mesial canals of the mandibular first and second molars, to examine differences between gender, age, and quadrant, and to prove if there is a relationship between root length and dentine thickness. METHODS: Two hundred eleven mandibular first and second molars were included in this study. Samples were divided according to age, gender, quadrant, and root length. Measurements of dentine thickness from the external border of the root canal to the external root surface and concavity depth were recorded 1, 2, and 4 mm below the furcation level. Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were performed to estimate the influence of different variables, and a multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of dentine thickness below the furcation level. RESULTS: First molars had a deeper concavity depth with significant differences in both 1 mm and 2 mm levels than second molars (P<0.05). According to concavity depth, there was no relationship with teeth length (P>0.05). The distal concavity was significantly deeper in the 1 and 2 mm levels (P<0.05). According to gender, the female group had a reduced dentine thickness in both mesiolingual and mesiobuccal canals in both 1 mm and 2 mm levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Female patients have a reduced dentine thickness below the furcation level. In order to select the most appropriate instrumentation procedure in every specific case, clinicians must be aware of the dentine reduced thickness measurements to avoid procedural iatrogenic damage.