Abstract

Human teeth mounted in individual plaster blocks were studied to determine the actual location of the root canal filling when it appears to be exactly at the radiographic apex. The original sample consisted of 109 teeth treated during endodontic technique class by junior dental students at Loma Linda University. In the most ideal manner possible, these teeth were radiographed on a flat surface with the x-ray tube perpendicular to the film and blocked tooth.

Five dentists examined the radiographs, and each one independently listed the canals he judged filled exactly to the radiographic apex. The investigator sorted out the choices and selected all canals judged filled exactly to the radiographic apex by at least two men for the study.

Forty-five teeth with fifty root canals met this requirement. Those teeth were separated from the plaster blocks and their apices studied under 20 x with a dissecting microscope.

The investigator reported that 48 percent of the canals had fillings extending beyond the apical foramen, while 30 percent of the fillings were flush with the apical foramen and 22 percent were short. It was also established that 79.5 percent of the foramen were located outside the apical vertex.

Department

Dentistry

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Ronald E. Buell

Second Advisor

Edwin M. Collins

Third Advisor

Elmer E. Kelln

Fourth Advisor

Edwin B. Nutting

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1969

Date (Title Page)

6-1969

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Dental Pulp Cavity

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vi; 34

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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