A comparative analysis of curvature degree between the tooth root and the root canal

Abstract

This study aims analyze the curvature degree between the tooth root and the root canal. Four different methods are used for comparing these two measurements. Ten mesiobuccal root canal of mandibular first molars were selected to four groups: G1- radiographs were taken without inserting a k-file into the mesiobuccal root canals; G2- radiographs were taken after inserting size 10 k-file into the mesiobuccal root canals; G3- digital radiographs were taken without inserting a k-file into the mesiobuccal root canals; G4- digital radiographs were taken after inserting size 10 k-file into the mesiobuccal root canals. Teeth were attached to a platform in order to standardize the radiograph images among the groups. Radiographs of each root canal were taken in buccolingual direction. The radiograph images were analyzed by only one operator. The measurements of curvature degrees between the tooth root and the root canal were compared statistically. ANOVA showed that there were not significant differences between the curvature angle values of the tooth root and the root canal determined using each technique and there were not significant differences between the conventional radiograph and digital radiograph (p > 0.05).