Table 5 Assumable recommendations for the final preparation size of the physiological foramen of the first and second maxillary and mandibular molars based on the results obtained

From: Three-dimensional analysis of the physiological foramen geometry of maxillary and mandibular molars by means of micro-CT

1st MX

Narrow diameter

Wide diameter

 

Mean

s.d.

IAF

%

Mean

s.d.

IAF

%

MB (S)

0.24

0.08

20

33.33

0.33

0.14

35

42.42

MB (2)

0.22

0.07

20

31.82

0.26

0.08

25

30.77

MB (3)

0.13

0.05

15

38.46

0.15

0.06

15

40.00

DB (S)

0.22

0.06

20

27.27

0.31

0.12

30

38.71

DB (2)

0.27

0.06

25

27.27

0.32

0.11

30

40.00

P (S)

0.33

0.10

35

30.30

0.42

0.14

40

33.33

2nd MX

Narrow diameter

Wide diameter

 

Mean

s.d.

IAF

%

Mean

s.d.

IAF

%

MB (S)

0.24

0.07

25

29.17

0.41

0.21

40

51.22

MB (2)

0.26

0.09

25

34.62

0.41

0.08

40

19.51

MB (3)

0.26

0.08

25

30.77

0.38

0.15

40

39.47

DB (S)

0.22

0.07

20

31.82

0.33

0.14

35

42.42

DB (2)

0.22

0.17

20

77.27

0.32

0.11

30

34.38

P (S)

0.33

0.11

35

33.33

0.44

0.15

45

34.09

1st MA

Narrow diameter

Wide diameter

 

Mean

s.d.

IAF

%

Mean

s.d.

IAF

%

M (S)

0.24

0.07

25

29.17

0.39

0.22

40

56.41

M (2)

0.25

0.10

25

40.00

0.41

0.24

40

58.54

M (3-5)

0.20

0.07

20

35.00

0.32

0.12

30

37.50

D (S)

0.30

0.11

30

36.67

0.46

0.18

45

39.13

D (2)

0.24

0.08

25

33.33

0.36

0.19

35

52.78

D (3-4)

0.30

0.10

30

33.33

0.48

0.20

50

41.67

2nd MA

Narrow diameter

Wide diameter

 

Mean

s.d.

IAF

%

Mean

s.d.

IAF

%

M (S)

0.25

0.09

25

36.00

0.47

0.23

45

48.94

M (2)

0.25

0.10

25

40.00

0.45

0.24

45

53.33

M (3-4)

0.20

0.06

20

30.00

0.33

0.16

35

48.48

D (S)

0.31

0.09

30

29.03

0.47

0.16

45

34.04

D (2)

0.27

0.06

25

22.22

0.38

0.10

40

26.32

D (3)

0.31

0.09

30

29.03

0.47

0.16

45

34.04

  1. The determined size of the IAF was calculated according to the mean values of the narrow and wide diameters. Friction at the tip of an instrument at the physiological foramen would be clinically the only conceivable advise that an operator could have to determine the diameter size of the physiological foramen or IAF size. However, due to the limitations inherent to this procedure, it is only the size of the narrow diameter that can be clinically detected; yet, the final preparation size of the physiological foramen should be determined according to the dimension of the wide, and not of the narrow, diameter. The mean figures (%) indicate the possible IAF calculation error margin, according to the resulting s.d., when employing the given IAF recommendations based on the dimensions obtained of either the narrow or wide diameters. 1st, first; 2, two foramina; 2nd, second; 3, three foramina; 3–5, three, four or five foramina; 3–4, three or four foramina; IAF, initial apical files; MA, mandibular; MX, maxillary; S, single foramen; s.d., standard deviations.
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