Root Canal Morphology of Mandibular Incisors with Double Root Canals in a Chinese Population

Objective: To investigate the bilateral symmetry of double root canals, variation in root canal bifurcation and position of canal orifices in mandibular incisors in a Chinese population. Methods: A total of 149 subjects with mandibular incisors with two canals were selected from 866 patients based on CBCT images and divided into three groups: group 1 ( 21 years), group 2 (21–40 years) and group 3 (> 40 years). The prevalence of bilateral symmetry of double root canals (type III and type V), the distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and the bifurcation (D1) and the distance between the two canal orifices (D2) were calculated and analysed. Results: The bilateral symmetry of type III for mandibular central incisors (MCIs) (44.4%) was significantly lower than that for mandibular lateral incisors (MLIs) (63.4%). D1 was greater in group 1 (4.63 ± 1.35mm) than in group 2 (3.99 ± 1.02 mm) and group 3 (3.90 ± 1.95 mm). D2 was shorter in in MCIs (0.65 ± 0.20 mm) than in MLIs (0.74 ± 0.22 mm). Conclusion: Special attention is required in the root canal treatment of mandibular incisors, especially in patients aged above 21 years. Keywords: bilateral symmetry, CBCT, double root canals, mandibular incisors