• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.121-127
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• 2012

Purpose: This study evaluated the association between cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and panoramic radiographs in the assessment of a superimposed relationship between the mandibular canal and impacted third molars. Materials and Methods: The study samples consisted of 175 impacted third molars from 131 patients who showed a superimposed relationship between the mandibular canal and third molars on panoramic radiographs and were referred for the examination of the mandibular canal with CBCT. Panoramic images were evaluated for the darkening of the root and the interruption of the mandibular canal wall. CBCT images were used to assess the buccolingual position of the mandibular canal relative to the third molar, the proximity of the roots to the canal, and lingual cortical bone loss. The association of the panoramic and CBCT findings was examined using a Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: Panoramic radiographic signs were statistically associated with CBCT findings (P<0.01). In cases of darkening roots, lingual cortical bone loss or buccally positioned canals were more frequent. In cases in which the mandibular canal wall was interrupted on panoramic radiographs, contact or lingually positioned canals were more frequent. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that contact between the mandibular third molar and canal and a lingually positioned canal could be more frequently observed in cases of the interruption of the white line of the mandibular canal and that there could be more lingual cortical loss in cases of darkening roots.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2022

Controversies exist regarding the need for prophylactic extraction of mandibular third molars in patients who plan to undergo orthognathic surgery. An 18-year-old male patient was diagnosed with mandibular prognathism and maxillary retrognathism with mild facial asymmetry. He had a severely damaged mandibular first molar and a horizontally impacted third molar. After extraction of the first molar, the second molar was protracted into the first molar space, and the third molar erupted into the posterior line of occlusion. The orthognathic surgery involved clockwise rotation of the maxillomandibular complex as well as angle shaving and chin border trimming. Patients who are missing or have damaged mandibular molars should be monitored for eruption of third molars to replace the missing posterior tooth regardless of the timing of orthognathic surgery.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.400-408
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to identify the most common canal type in primary molars and the correlation between their roots and canals. A comprehensive understanding of root canal morphology will lead to more successful root canal treatment. Computed Tomography (CT) images from 114 children (81 boys, 33 girls) aged 3 - 7 years were obtained. The locations and numbers of roots and canals were evaluated, and the relationship between root and canal parameters was determined. The most commonly observed canal morphology in primary maxillary molars were mesio-buccal, disto-buccal and palatal canal. Primary mandibular molars most frequently contain mesio-buccal, mesio-lingual, disto-buccal and distolingual canal. All the roots of the primary maxillary molars except for the mesio-buccal root, each had 1 canal while there were 2 canals observed in each root of primary mandibular molars. Without exception, all mesial roots in primary mandibular 2nd molars had 2 canals. In case when either the palatal root in a primary maxillary molar or the distal root in a primary mandibular molar was separated into 2 roots, each root seemed to have its own canal. Even though the disto-buccal and palatal roots were fused into 1 root in primary maxillary molars, this fused root had tendency to have 2 separate canals. Primary mandibular molars showed similar canal morphologies between left and right molars in the same patient, while the primary maxillary molars did not.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.24 no.4 s.47
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• pp.773-785
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• 1994

It has been generally believed that the impaction or eruption of mandibular third molars has significant correlations with the growth of the mandible, size of mandibular arch and size of teeth. The purpose of this study was to examine if there is any correlation between the status of eruption of mandibular third molars and the amount of mandibular crowding. The effect of missing of third moalrs to mandibular crowding was studied as well. 140 adult students of Yonsei University were selected and divided into three groups according to the status of mandibular third molars, Group 1) congenital missing group, Group 2) eruption group, and Group 3) impaction group. The tooth size, dimensions of the mandibular dental arch, and the amount of crowding were measured and compared. Results were as follows ; 1. There was no statistically significant difference in tooth size between the missing group and the eruption group(p<0.05). Impaction group showed larger total tooth material, inci- sal tooth material, and individual tooth size except central incisors compared to missing group (p<0.05). Impaction group showed larger total tooth material, incisal tooth material compared to eruption group as well(p<0.05). When individual tooth size was compared, impaction group had larger central incisors, canines, and second premolars than eruption group(p<0.05). 2. Missing group showed larger intermolar width than impaction group and it was stati- stically significant(p<0.05). 3. When compared the amount of total crowding, impaction group showed the largest am- ount of crowding, then eruption group, and missing group showed the least amount of crowding respectively(p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between missing stoup and eruption group in the amount of incisal crowding(p<0.05). Impaction group show- ed the largest amount of incisal crowding among all three groups(p<0.05).

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2016

Prophylactic removal of impacted third molars is a common procedure in dentistry, but the necessity of routine extraction is still controversial. When impacted third molars caused severe apical root resorption of the second molars, orthodontic traction of the third molars after extraction of the damaged second molars could minimize alveolar bone defect and preserve the patient's natural teeth. By well-planned orthodontic treatment, functional occlusion was established avoiding extraction of the impacted teeth and eliminating the possibility of a large bone defect after extraction.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.16.1-16.9
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• 2018

Objectives: Understanding the reason for an unsuccessful non-surgical endodontic treatment outcome, as well as the complex anatomy of the root canal system, is very important. This study examined the cross-sectional root canal structure of mandibular first molars confirmed to have failed non-surgical root canal treatment using digital images obtained during intentional replantation surgery, as well as the causative factors of the failed conventional endodontic treatments. Materials and Methods: This study evaluated 115 mandibular first molars. Digital photographic images of the resected surface were taken at the apical 3 mm level and examined. The discolored dentin area around the root canal was investigated by measuring the total surface area, the treated areas as determined by the endodontic filling material, and the discolored dentin area. Results: Forty 2-rooted teeth showed discolored root dentin in both the mesial and distal roots. Compared to the original filled area, significant expansion of root dentin discoloration was observed. Moreover, the mesial roots were significantly more discolored than the distal roots. Of the 115 molars, 92 had 2 roots. Among the mesial roots of the 2-rooted teeth, 95.7% of the roots had 2 canals and 79.4% had partial/complete isthmuses and/or accessory canals. Conclusions: Dentin discoloration that was not visible on periapical radiographs and cone-beam computed tomography was frequently found in mandibular first molars that failed endodontic treatment. The complex anatomy of the mesial roots of the mandibular first molars is another reason for the failure of conventional endodontic treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1.1-1.9
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of radix molaris (RM) (entomolaris and paramolaris) in the mandibular first permanent molars of a sample Saudi Arabian subpopulation using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: A total of 884 CBCT images of 427 male and 457 female Saudi citizens (age 16 to 70 years) were collected from the radiology department archives of 4 dental centers. A total of 450 CBCT images of 741 mature mandibular first molars that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The images were viewed at high resolution by 3 examiners and were analyzed with Planmeca Romexis software (version 5.2). Results: Thirty-three (4.5%) mandibular first permanent molars had RM, mostly on the distal side. The incidence of radix entomolaris (EM) was 4.3%, while that of radix paramolaris was 0.3%. The RM roots had one canal and occurred more unilaterally. No significant difference in root configuration was found between males and females (p > 0.05). Types I and III EM root canal configurations were most common, while type B was the only RP configuration observed. Conclusions: The incidence of RM in the mandibular first molars of this Saudi subpopulation was 4.5%. Identification of the supernumerary root can avoid missing the canal associated with the root during root canal treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.42.1-42.7
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the C-shaped root canal anatomy of mandibular second molars in a Korean population. Materials and Methods: A total of 542 teeth were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The canal shapes were classified according to a modified version of Melton's method at the level where the pulp chamber floor became discernible. Results: Of the 542 mandibular second molars, 215 (39.8%) had C-shaped canals, 330 (53%) had 3 canals, 17 (3.3%) had 2 canals, 12 (2.2%) had 4 canals, and 8 (1.7%) had 1 canal. The prevalence of C-shaped canals was 47.8% in females and 28.4% in males. Seventy-seven percent of the C-shaped canals showed a bilateral appearance. The prevalence of C-shaped canals showed no difference according to age or tooth position. Most teeth with a C-shaped canal system presented Melton's type II (45.6%) and type III (32.1%) configurations. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of C-shaped canals in the mandibular second molars of the Korean population studied. CBCT is expected to be useful for endodontic diagnosis and treatment planning of mandibular second molars.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.262-270
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the healing rate of non-surgical endodontic treatment between C-shaped and non-C-shaped mandibular second molars. Materials and Methods: Clinical records and radiological images of patients who had undergone endodontic treatment on mandibular second molars between 2007 and 2014 were screened. The periapical index scoring system was applied to compare healing outcomes. Information about preoperative and postoperative factors as well as the demographic data of the patients was acquired and evaluated using chi-square and multinomial logistic regression tests. Results: The total healing rate was 68.4%. Healing rates for the mandibular second molar were 70.9% in C-shaped canals (n = 79) and 66.6% in non-C-shaped ones (n = 117). The difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The presence of a C-shaped canal in the mandibular second molar did not have a significantly negative effect on healing after treatment. Instead, proper pulpal diagnosis and final restoration were indicated as having significantly greater influence on the healing outcomes of C-shaped and non-C-shaped canals, respectively.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.333-338
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the buccolingual inclination of maxillary and mandibular molars in adults with different vertical facial types. Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography images of 135 adult patients (age, 20-45 years) with skeletal Class I maxillomandibular relationships were assigned to normodivergent (n = 46), hypodivergent (n = 49), and hyperdivergent groups (n = 40) according to linear and angular sella-nasion/gonion-menton measurements. The normodivergent group consisted of 24 females and 22 males, hypodivergent group of 26 females and 23 males, and hyperdivergent group of 24 females and 16 males. Buccolingual inclination of the maxillary and mandibular first and second molars was measured relative to the occlusal plane. One-way analysis of variance was used for intergroup comparison. Gender differences were evaluated using independent t-tests. Results: Buccolingual molar inclinations did not differ significantly between females and males (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences among the buccolingual inclinations of the first and second maxillary and mandibular molars of the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Buccolingual inclinations of maxillary and mandibular molars are similar in normodivergent, hyperdivergent, and hypodivergent adults with Class I sagittal relationships.