The frequency of the second mesiobuccal canal in maxillary first molars among a sample of the Kurdistan Region-Iraq population - A retrospective cone-beam computed tomography evaluation

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: One of the most complexes in root and canal anatomy is the maxillary first permanent molar. This study aimed to analyze the frequency of mesiobuccal (MB2) canal and its apical portals of exit, in patients belonging to different gender-age groups and determine the possible relation with sex and age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A CBCT scan images were accessed from a documented database of 343 patients (178 male, 165 female), who had an oral and maxillofacial examination. The age of the patients ranging from 12 to 63 years. The frequency of the MB2 canal and its portals of exit apically were observed. Age and gender correlation were calculated using the χ2 test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 634 maxillary first molars (335 male, 299 female) were included. The MB2 canal was found in 53.78% of the cases. A significantly higher incidence of the MB2 canal was detected in males than in females. No correlation in the presence and/or absence of the MB2 canal in terms of age. When MB2 canal present, a single apical foramen was observed in 66.28% of the cases, two apical foramina were present in 33.72% of the cases. CONCLUSION: MB2 canals may be present in approximately half of the cases, from which one third of the cases have their own apical portal of exit.