Root and canal morphology of human primary molars in a local population of Southern Punjab: An in vitro Study

Background: the root canal is a procedure in which whole of the diseased pulp is removed and the canal is filled with an inert material. therefore the success of root canal is mainly dependant on making the entire root canal system free of micro-organisms. aim: to evaluate and asses the number of root canals and root curvatures present in primary maxillary and mandibular first molars that got extraction at nishtar institute of dentistry,multan. methods: this prospective study was carried at nishtar institute of dentistry multan from june 2014 to august 2014. a total 60 primary molars were taken randamly out of that 30 were maxillary first molars and 30 were mandibular first molars. after extraction,the teeth were cleaned under running tap water to make them free of blood clots and debris. ultrasonic scaler was used to remove the hard tissue attached to the teeth. the teeth were then put in glass container filled with the distilled water and the number,length and angulation of all the roots were measured. access cavities were prepared using a fissure diamond bur (sf 12 mani japan) used in air turbine (nsk japan) for penetration into the pulp chamber and endo z bur (e0152,21mm mani japan) having non-cutting end for de-roofing. results: most of the teeth in the mandibular first molar had two roots. the two canals (90%) in the mesial root and one canal in the distal root (86.66%). the mean length of the mesial root was 8.99mm and mean angulation was 10.80o. the mean length of the distal root of mandibular molar was 7.10mm and the root angulation that of 8.10° .all the maxillary molars had three roots. although a few had distobuccal and palatal roots fused yet the canals were completely separated. the mesiobuccal root of maxillary molar showed the maximum mean angulation of 18.74° followed by distobuccal and palatal having the mean angulation of 15.41° and 12.49° respectively. conclusion: all the root canals of maxillary first molars are separated and the palatal canal being the longest one and straight. the mandibular first molars have two roots and three canals. the distal root being longer than mesial one. no specific aberrations were found.