IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 17, Issue 01 Ver. X January. (2018), PP 68-72 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-1701106872 www.iosrjournals.org 68 | Page Radiological Study of the Root Form and Canal Configuration of the Maxillary First Premolar among Sudanese Population Kamal Badawi 1 , Sara MohamedElamin 2 Yasser Seddeg 3 1 (Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, / The National Ribat University, Sudan) 2 (Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, / The National Ribat University, Sudan) 3 (Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, / The National Ribat University, Sudan) Corresponding Author: Kamal Badawi Abstract: The aim of this research was to determine the most common anatomical form of roots and canals configuration of the maxillary first premolar among Sudanese population. The study was an observational descriptive in nature. Diagnostic periapical radiographs were used along with clinical findings. Data was collected from departments of restorative dentistry in some Khartoum state's clinics and hospitals. The study included a total of 80 patients, of which (30) were males and (50) were females with a minimum age of 15 years and a majority ranging between 26 and 36 years. It revealed that 30 (37.5 %) of the maxillary first premolars under study had a single root, while 49 (61.25%) had two roots and only one tooth (1.25%) had three roots. The majority of teeth had straight roots ; 28 (93.3%) of the single rooted MFPs were straight, while 2 (6.7%) were curved. 43 (87.8%) of the MFPs which had two roots were straight, while 6 (12.2%) were curved and regarding the single tooth which was found to have three roots all of them were straight. With regard to number of canals 8 (10%) of cases had a single canal, while 71 (88.75%) had two canals and only one (1.25%) had three canals. Of the single rooted MFPs, 22 (73.3%) had a single canal with a mean length of 20.6 mm, while 8 (26.6%) had two canals with a mean length of 20.1 mm for the buccal canal and 20.4 mm for the palatal one. All of the MFPs which had two roots also had two canals; their buccal canal had a mean length of 19.5 mm while the palatal canal had a mean of 19.8 mm. 40 (81.6%) of their roots were separate while 9 (18.4%) were fused and with regard to the single MFP which had three roots, they were found to be separated from each other. Keywords: Buccal canal, First premolar, Maxillary, Palatal canal, Periapical. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 09-01-2018 Date of acceptance: 25-01-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction The maxillary first premolar (MFP) is one of two teeth located in the upper jaw. Premolars are so named because they are anterior to the molars in the permanent dentition. [1/2] Crowns of the maxillary premolars are shorter than those of the maxillary canines, and their roots are also shorter. The root lengths equal those of the molars, while the crowns are little longer. Because the cusp develops buccally and lingually, the marginal ridges are in a more horizontal plane and are considered part of the occlusal surface of the crown rather than part of the lingual surface, as in the case of incisors and canines. The internal anatomy of the first maxillary premolar is particularly complex due to their variations in number of roots and canal configuration. [2/3] Normally the MFP has two roots and two root canals. Occasionally only one root is present, but even then two canals are still often found. The root tips are very fine, which may result in perforation even in a straight canal if a large apical open size is attempted. The roots are often equal in length, but 1-2 mm differences may occur. The root tips and apical canals may curve in the mesio-distal or bucco-palatal dimensions. Rarely, the upper first premolar has three roots and three root canals (molarization) as with the upper molars, although the roots are much finer and smaller. [4,5] Conventional root canal treatment has an overall success rate of 65-95%. The outcome is influenced by the quality of treatment, the design and quality of subsequent restoration; poor endodontic treatment therefore increases the risk of tooth loss, thus a rational approach to the treatment of disease requires an understanding of the pathological process which in turn demands knowledge of the normal anatomy and physiology of the tissues involved. [5] II. Methods It is an observational descriptive study in which diagnostic periapical radiographs are used along with clinical findings. The study contains a mixture of pro and retrospective approaches. The study was held in Sudan, Khartoum state, at Dental clinics of Khartoum University and Khartoum educational dental hospital during the period from (Jul – Dec 2015). The study included only patients with a fully completed root development. Patients with uncompleted root development were excluded along with those whose records were