Evaluation of the relationship between the curvature angle of the mesiobuccal root canal of the maxillary first molars and the apical foramen configuration and gender

The aim of our study is to evaluate various morphological features of maxillary first molars and the relationship of curvature angle of the mesiobuccal root canal with gender and apical foramen configuration using CBCT. CBCT images of 250 teeth were examined. The curvature angle of the mesiobuccal root canal was measured similarly to the Schneider method, and the root region where the curvature began (coronal-middle-apical) and the curvature direction were determined. The presence of MB2, the number of apical foramen, the location where the canals join were evaluated and the joining distance of the canals, interorifice distance, crown and root length were measured. Relationships between categorical variables were made with Chi-square Analysis, comparisons between two independent groups of numerical variables were made with Independent Samples t Test. Relationships between numerical variables were evaluated with the Pearson correlation coefficient. The mean angle of curvature of teeth with a single curvature and 2 apical foramen was significantly higher (p˂0.05). There's no significant relationship between genders, mean canal curvature angle and apical foramen number (p˃0.05). Curvature most commonly begins in the middle third. The most common direction of curvature is distal. The MB and MB2 join in the middle, apical and coronal third, respectively. The joining distance of the canals is significantly higher in males (p=0.015). The interorifice distance is higher in teeth with 2 apical foramen (p<0.001). There is a moderate positive relationship between interorofice distance and the joining distance of the canals (r=0.47). There's no significant relationship between crown and root lengths and apical foramen number (p˃0.05). At the furcation level, mesiodistal and buccolingual root thicknesses were higher in males (p˂0.05). At the furcation level, positive relationship was found between the mesiodistal root (r=0.24), buccolingual root thickness and the interorifice distance (r=0.46).