Morphology of the root apex of permanent teeth. A scanning electron microscope study in a Moroccan population.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the root apex morphology in permanent teeth of a Moroccan population using scanning electron microscope. Eighty-seven teeth were collected from Moroccan patients attending the Oral Surgery Department of the faculty of dentistry, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco. The extracted teeth were then prepared for scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation at a root apex slice thickness of 5 mm. The median distance of the apical foramen from the apex was about 0.37 [0-0.62] mm, 0. 60 [0-0.82] mm, 0.71 [0.36-0.94] mm in incisors/canines, bi-rooted and multi-rooted teeth respectively, the mean apical foramen diameter was 0.30 [0.23-0.34] mm, 0.24 [0.18-0.33] mm, 0.27 [0.19-0.35] mm in incisors/canines, bi-rooted and multi-rooted teeth respectively. The apical foramen coincided with the apex in 33.5%, 33%, and 30.8% in incisors/canines, bi-rooted, and multi-rooted teeth. 16.45% of incisors, and 10.1% of the bi-rooted teeth with pulp and peri-apical diseases showed apical resorptions.