(PR54) A CBCT Analysis of MB2 Canal Morphology in Maxillary Second Molars

The morphology of maxillary second molars has warranted much anatomical research due to the presence or absence of the second mesiobuccal canal (MB₂). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of MB-P interorifice distance and its relationship with the presence and configuration of second mesiobuccal canals (MB₂) in maxillary second molars. 107 images were acquired with Veraview X800 Morita CBCT (pixel size= 80 μm) and evaluated according to Vertucci’s classification. Two independent evaluators (oral and maxillofacial radiology and endodontic residents) evaluated the distance between the center points of the mesiobuccal and palatal canal orifices (MB1-P). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni’s multiple-comparisons test was used to determine significance (p < .002). The MB₂ canal was detected in 35 roots (32.7%) of cases reviewed in this study. The mean interorifice distance of MB-P was found to be 4.79 mm with a standard deviation of +/- 0.68. The incidence of classes was as follows: class I: 72 (67.2%), class II: 21 (19.6%), class IV: 11 (10.2%), class V: 2 (1.9%), and class VII: 1 (0.9%). There was a statistically significant difference in the MB1-P interorifice distance and Vertucci classification (p < 0.00001). There was also a statistically significant difference between Vertucci classification II and IV (p < 0.004).

Conclusions: MB-P interorifice distance can have implications for determining the presence of a second mesiobuccal canal (MB2) and may predict the mesiobuccal Vertucci classification.