Using CBCT To Identify The Distance Between The Occlusal Cusp Tip To The Orifice In Young Adults In Mandibular Anterior Teeth
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/jaz.v43iS2.5366Keywords:
Cone-beam computed tomography, mandibular anterior teeth, pulp orifice, endodontic access, anatomical landmarks, young adultsAbstract
Objective: To determine the vertical distance from the occlusal cusp tip to the pulp canal orifice in mandibular anterior teeth of young adults using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and to establish normative data for guiding minimally invasive endodontic access preparations.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed CBCT scans of 128 young adults (64 males, 64 females) aged 18-30 years (mean 24.3 ± 3.6 years) obtained from a university radiology database. A total of 768 mandibular anterior teeth (256 central incisors, 256 lateral incisors, 256 canines) without restorations, caries, calcifications, or periapical pathology were included. Multiplanar reconstructions were oriented along the long axis of each tooth, and the linear distance from the mid-incisal edge/cusp tip to the pulp orifice was measured independently by two calibrated examiners using dedicated software. Intraclass correlation coefficients assessed reliability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and ANOVA with significance set at p<0.05.
Results: The mean distances from cusp tip to pulp orifice were: central incisors 8.47 ± 0.62 mm (range 7.1-10.2 mm), lateral incisors 8.92 ± 0.68 mm (range 7.5-10.8 mm), and canines 10.84 ± 0.81 mm (range 9.0-12.9 mm). Significant differences existed among all tooth types (p<0.001). Males exhibited slightly greater distances than females across all teeth (mean difference 0.41 mm, p<0.05). No significant bilateral asymmetry was observed (p>0.05). Inter-examiner reliability was excellent (ICC >0.90).
Conclusion: This study provides normative data for cusp tip-to-orifice distances in mandibular anterior teeth of young adults. The significant variation among tooth types and individuals underscores the value of preoperative CBCT measurement for precision endodontics. These findings support the clinical application of CBCT-derived measurements to guide conservative access cavity preparations and minimize unnecessary tooth structure removal.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Preethi Raj M, Dr. S. Delphine Priscilla Antony
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
