Aim : To determine the variations in the root and canal morphology of the maxillary first premolar teeth in a Ugandan population. Methodology : Extracted maxillary first premolar teeth (n = 202) were evaluated in this study. The specimens had their pulp chambers de-roofed. They were decalcified in nitric acid and made transparent with methyl salicylate. Indian ink was injected into the root canals to display their configuration. Results : One hundred and forty eight (73.3%) of the specimens had two roots, of which 16.9% (n = 25) had fused roots. About 26.7% (n = 54) of the specimens were single rooted. Eleven (20.4%) of the single rooted specimens had one canal of either Vertucci type I, III, V or VII configuration while 79.6% (n = 43) of the specimens had two canals of either Vertucci type II, IV or VI configuration. The two-rooted specimens exhibited Vertucci type IV and VIII canal configuration: 96.6% and 3.4%, respectively. The single rooted teeth had a higher prevalence of lateral canals, canal intercommunications and multiple apical foramina as compared to the two-rooted specimens. Conclusion : The maxillary first premolar teeth in this Ugandan population showed a higher prevalence of two-root morphology with majority of the roots having Vertucci type IV canal configuration. There was no three-root anomaly recorded in the present material.
展开▼
