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Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Internal Tooth Anatomy

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Abstract

The study of human tooth anatomy is fundamental to clinical endodontics. Several histologic methods used to evaluate tooth anatomy have been described for the purpose of identification and categorization of various root and root canal types. In addition, multiple articles have attempted to classify root and root canal configuration as it relates to tooth type, tooth location, root type, gender, geographic location, and ethnic background. For decades, two-dimensional radiographic images captured at various horizontal and vertical angulations have been the primary method for clinical evaluation of tooth anatomy prior to endodontic treatment. Attempting to evaluate multidimensional anatomy from planar imaging has significant limitations. Technological advancements in three-dimensional tomographic imaging have given rise to a more accurate method for the clinical evaluation of tooth anatomy. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides a nondestructive real-time capture of three-dimensional anatomic and morphologic information. A short acquisition time and a level of detail equivalent to that of in vitro tooth sectioning make CBCT imaging the first, and currently only, practical method available for the accurate, undistorted, chairside evaluation of tooth anatomy in three spatial planes prior to root canal therapy.

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Correspondence to William J. Nudera DDS, MS .

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Nudera, W.J. (2016). Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Internal Tooth Anatomy. In: Fayad, M., Johnson, B. (eds) 3D Imaging in Endodontics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31466-2_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31466-2_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31464-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31466-2

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