Variations in root canal morphology of permanent incisors and canines among Asian population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Journal of oral biosciences 2021-12, Vol.63 (4), p.337-350
• Main Authors: Usha, Gayathri, Muddappa, Sapna Chandira, Venkitachalam, Ramanarayanan, Singh V P, Prabath, Rajan, Rakesh R., Ravi, Arjun B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anatomic variation; Classification; Cuspids; Dental pulp cavity; Incisors
• ISSN: 1349-0079
• DOI: 10.1016/j.job.2021.09.004

This systematic review was designed to measure the pooled prevalence of morphological variations in the root canal of permanent incisors and canines among Asian adults. An electronic search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO databases, and relevant studies were included. Studies reporting on the Vertucci canal configuration (types I to VIII) were included. A weighted proportion (pooled prevalence) with 95% confidence interval was calculated for each canal type, and the outcome was stratified based on country, technique of assessment, gender, and age. Sixty articles were included in the final review. In all types of maxillary anterior teeth, the pooled prevalence of type I canal configuration was greater than 97%, whereas mandibular central incisor, lateral incisor, and canines had a prevalence of 78.4%, 69.2%, and 91.1%, respectively. Studies considering mandibular anterior teeth as a single entity had a lower prevalence of type I configuration (70.1%). Variations in root canal configurations were also observed between countries. Among gender, males had a significantly lower prevalence of type I and a higher prevalence of type II and III canal configurations in the mandibular anterior teeth. A variation in canal types was also noted with advancing age, with younger age groups showing more variations. The majority of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth have type I Vertucci canal configuration, but variations in mandibular anterior teeth, especially lateral incisors, are also common. Variations were also observed among population, gender, age, and prevalence based on the diagnostic techniques used.