Apical periodontitis of endodontically treated maxillary first molar: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the Cone-beam computed tomograghy(CBCT) scan of endodontically treated maxillary first molars and investigate how second mesiobuccal (MB2) canal is treated, how the prognosis of mesiobuccal (MB) root is different compared to other roots and the prognosis factor on apical periodontitis. Methods: Subjects were endodontically treated maxillary first molars whose were collected from CBCT scans taken from January 2018 until December 2019. A total of 525 maxillary first molars were analyzed by an endodontist to determine the presence of the MB2 canal, the quality of the root canal filling, and the presence of apical periodontitis. The chi square test and Fisher's exact test was used to examine the relationship between each variable. Results: MB2 canals were found in 46.3%, of which 76.5% were not treated. The more main canal of mesiobuccal root (MB1 canal) was well filled, the more significantly MB2 canal was well filled (p<0.001). The apical periodontitis of MB root was not related to the filling quality of MB1 canal (p=0.370) and was related to the filling quality of MB2 canal (p=0.004). The apical periodontitis of MB root was related to the quality of canal filling of MB2 canal and the apical periodontitis of DB and P root. Conclusions: It was found that the majority of MB2 canals were not treated. The apical periodontitis of MB root was analyzed to be related to the quality of canal filling of MB2 canal. The apical lesion of the MB root was not correlated with the treatment of the MB1 canal, but it was significantly related to the quality of filling of MB2 canal.