Morphology of the Physiological Apical Foramen of Maxillary Premolars/Morfologia del Foramen Apical de Premolares Maxilares

• Published in: International journal of morphology 2018-03, Vol.36 (1), p.164
• Main Authors: Abarca, Jaime, Zaror, Carlos, Contreras, Wendy, Jadue, Sofia, Olguin, Carlos, Steinfort, Karin, Monardes, Hector
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0717-9367

The purpose of this study was to determine the shape and diameter of the physiological foramen in maxillary premolars of a Chilean population. The sample consisted of 125 extracted maxillary premolars, in which the apical three to five millimeters were cut and observed under magnification of 40x, photographed (Motic Cam), and analyzed using Motic Images Plus 2.0 ML in order to obtain measurements of the minor and major diameter of each physiological foramen. The average minor and major diameter in maxillary premolars was 0.270 and 0.413 mm, respectively. In terms of shape, 72.19% had oval shaped physiological foramen; 18.93% were irregularly shaped and 8.88% were round. Oval and irregular canals are significantly more difficult to shape and require special attention in order to obtain a thoroughly disinfected root canal system. KEY WORDS: Apical constriction; Apical diameter; Maxillary premolars; Physiological foramen; Root apex. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la forma y el diametro del foramen fisiologico de premolares maxilares en una poblacion Chilena. La muestra consistio en 125 premolares maxilares extraidos, a los que se corto de 3 a 5 milimetros apicales, fueron observados bajo magnificacion de 40x, fotografiado (Motic Cam) y analizados utilizando Motic Images Plus 2.0 ML para obtener las mediciones de el diametro menor y mayor de cada foramen fisiologico. El promedio del diametro menor y mayor en premolares maxilares fue de 0,270 y 0,413 mm respectivamente. En cuanto a la forma 72,19% tenia el foramen fisiologico de forma oval; 18,93% tenia forma irregular y 8,88% fue redondo. Canales ovales e irregulares son significativamente mas dificiles de conformar y requieren especial atencion para obtener una adecuada desinfeccion del sistema de canales radiculares PALABRAS CLAVE: Constriccion apical; Diametro apical; Premolares Maxilares; Foramen fisiologico; Apice radicular.