Study of anatomical variations in premolars by cone beam computerized tomography in a radiologic clinic in Piauí

Introduction: Root canal cleaning is the main objective of endodontic treatment and requires knowledge of the internal anatomy. The premolars are evidenced in the literature with great anatomical variations. In view of this, studies indicate that the use of Cone Beam Computed Tomography helps in the visualization of highly complex anatomy. Objective: to describe the anatomical variations in maxillary and mandibular premolars using cone beam computed tomography in a radiologic clinic in Piaui. Methods: 54 cone beam computed tomography scans with 160 premolars were used, produced using the Orthopantomograph OP300 equipment and analyzed by multiplanar reconstructions: axial, coronal and sagittal. Data regarding sex, number of roots and canals were recorded to compare and classify according to Vertucci. Results: the maxillary first pre-molars had 63.5% two roots,83.7% with one root and the mandibular pre-molars mostly with one root. Regarding the number of channels, 92.3% of the first premolars had two channels, most of them maxillary second premolars and mandibular premolars only one channel. Vertucci variations of types I, II, III and IV were verified in single-rooted elements, observing a great variation in superior elements. As for the prevalence of sex, only the first superiors showed greater variation in males. Conclusions: the upper first premolars prevailed with a great anatomical variation in relation to the other premolars with prevalence of Vertucci Type I and in males.