ROOT-CANAL MORPHOLOGY OF MAXILLARY PERMANENT 1ST MOLAR TEETH AT VARIOUS AGES

The root canal anatomy and pulp chamber morphology of 216 maxillary pe rmanent first molar teeth of known age was examined using a radiograph ic technique after infusion of the root canal system with a radiopaque sodium iothalomate gel. This technique proved to be a rapid and effec tive method for the examination of root canal morphology and is recomm ended when root canal anatomy needs to be examined before further inve stigations are carried out. Over 95% of palatal and disto-buccal roots contained a single root canal. The mesio-buccal root was more complex . All types of configurations were seen. Only 26% of mesio-buccal root s showed a single canal. The pulp canal in all roots appeared to narro w at an early age. In the mesio-buccal root, a definite two-directiona l calcification pattern was apparent in most teeth by the age of 10. T he rate of progress of root formation was very variable. There was no apparent relationship between the type of canal system in the mesio-bu ccal root and the type of canal orifice present. The transverse cross- sectional shape of the pulp chamber was trapezoidal in 81% of teeth.