Assessment of Pulp Chamber Morphology of Primary Maxillary and Mandibular Molars Using Spiral Computed Tomography: An Analytical Study.

BACKGROUND

The basic anatomy of primary teeth gives an idea of an ideal access cavity with minimal loss of tooth structure. Central groove, cemento enamel junction (CEJ), roof and floor of the pulp chamber, and furcation area are significant landmarks in tooth morphology. In primary teeth, the pulp occupies a higher volume of the crown than permanent teeth do, and with progressing caries, the comparatively thin layer of hard mineralized tissue between the inner and outer surfaces causes the tooth pulp to become involved very quickly. The thickness of mineralized tissue surrounding the pulp varies depending on the size and type of the tooth.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the pulp chamber morphology in primary maxillary and mandibular molars using spiral computed tomography (SCT).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The following landmarks of forty noncarious primary maxillary and mandibular molars were scanned using SCT: (1) point A-the greatest measurement of the crown (occluso-cervically), (2) point B-distance between the reference point and the roof of the pulp chamber, (3) point C-distance between the reference point and the floor of the pulp chamber, (4) point D-height of the pulp chamber, (5) point E-distance between the furcation and the pulp chamber floor.

RESULTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Teeth were scanned in SCT, and sliced teeth were viewed in coronal view. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparisons among various groups using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Categorical data were summarized as proportions and percentages (%), and quantitative data were summarized as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The comparison between the first molars in the mandible and maxilla was analyzed using paired t-tests for various dimensions. Among all the parameters, in parameter C (distance between the reference point and the floor of the pulp chamber), the p-value was highly significant (p < 0.001) in maxillary and mandibular first and second primary molars.

CONCLUSION

The detailed analysis of mandibular and maxillary tooth dimensions offers crucial insights into their structural variations, essential for precise dental assessments and treatment planning.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Maheshwari P, Gangwar A, De S, et al. Assessment of Pulp Chamber Morphology of Primary Maxillary and Mandibular Molars Using Spiral Computed Tomography: An Analytical Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(4):431-435.