Root trunk dimensions of first maxillary premolars: age and sex influence. A cone beam computed tomography study

EuroPerio9 Congress. Europeran Federation of Periodontology. Amsterdam, Holland Poster Presentation PR221 Background & Aim: Root trunk dimensions (RTD) play an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the RTD of first maxillary premolar and to study the influence of gender and sex in this value. Methods: The sample included 110 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images comprising of 220 maxillary first premolars from systemically healthy patients aged between 18 and 70 years. The tooth length and RT length (TL/ RTL) were measured in cross-sectional sections (dependent variables). Sex and gender were considered independent variables. Results: The dependent variables considered had a normal distribution. No statistically significant correlation was found between the RTL and the TL. Longer RT and longer RTL were observed in younger patients than older subjects. Single rooted first left premolars were more frequent in older patients. Women had statistically significant higher frequency of single rooted first premolar than man (p = 0.05). Conclusion: The age has been found to influence the RTL and RL but only in left premolars. Moreover, first premolar with one root was more frequent in older patients and was symmetrically distributed in the two sides of the mouth. Sex appeared to have only a minor influence on the frequency of single rooted teeth of the right side of the mouth. Further studies should evaluate the asymmetry observed between the two sides of the mouth and identify different variables that may influence root trunk dimensions, of not only first maxillary premolars, but of other multi-rooted teeth as well.