Location and shape of the apical foramina in posterior teeth: an in-vitro analysis.

Purpose: To analyze the morphology of shapes and positions of the apical foramina in permanent maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth.

Methods: Examination of the apical foramina was performed with a stereomicroscope at a magnification of 10×. The anatomic parameters evaluated were the shapes of the peripheral contours of the apical foramina (rounded, oval, asymmetric, and semilunar). The location of the apical foramen was recorded as a center, buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal surface.

Results: Results have shown that the frequency of deviation was 68% in all teeth being assessed, while the most frequent location of the apical foramen was in the center, with 32% followed by distal with 18%. The common shape of apical foramina was round shape in all the teeth.

Conclusions: The variation in the location and shapes of apical foramina in teeth. The commonest deviation in location of apical foramina was distal and the frequent shape was of a round shape.