Abstracto

The Role of Dental Operating Microscope in Locating the Second Mesio- Buccal Canal in Maxillary Molars: an In Vitro Evaluation

Harpreet Singh, Jaidev Singh Dhillon, Mandeep Kaur, Pooja Kapoor

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of using the Dental Operating Microscope (DOM) for detection of the second mesio buccal canal orifice in extracted maxillary first molars of north Indian population, compared with unaided vision.

Study Design: 520 extracted maxillary first molars were collected from different regions of north India and access cavity preparations were made in all. Attempt was made to locate the MB2 canal with unaided vision. Then the teeth in which no MB2 canal was found were examined by using a DOM along with the use of ultrasonics.

Results: MB2 canal orifices were detected in 338 teeth with unaided vision. In another 86 teeth, MB2 canal orifice was located by using the DOM. Qualitative nonparametric comparisons were used for evaluation revealing that magnification increased the chances of locating the MB2 canal by 16.5 percentage points.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the DOM provides increased opportunity for the dentist to detect extra canals, thus enhancing the success rate of Endodontic therapy.