Premium
The C ‐shaped canal molar: an Endodontic– A rchaeological study of the relationships between M ayan pre‐Hispanic and contemporary population of Yucatán
Author(s) -
RamírezSalomón M.,
VegaLizama E.,
Tiesler V.,
AlvaradoCárdenas G.,
LópezVillanueva M.,
SierraSosa T.,
Cucina A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international endodontic journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.988
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1365-2591
pISSN - 0143-2885
DOI - 10.1111/iej.12255
Subject(s) - molar , dentistry , root canal , population , mandibular molar , medicine , orthodontics , mandibular second molar , environmental health
Aim To assess the prevalence of C‐shaped canal systems in mandibular second molars, in samples of modern and pre‐Hispanic Mayan individuals in Yucatán, Mexico, and to analyse the trait through time and attempt to find new evidence of ethnical bonds between populations. Methodology Three hundred and forty‐one randomly selected patients were treated in the Endodontic Clinic at the Dental school of the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, and 48 mandibular second molars from pre‐Hispanic Mayan collections were macroscopically and radiographically inspected. Statistical analysis was performed with a Fisher's exact test to compare the prevalence of C‐shaped canal systems in modern and archaeological samples. Results In the clinical observation, 118 of 341 (35%) patients treated endodontically had C‐shaped mandibular second molars. In the radiographical evaluation, 17 of 48 (35%) archaeological molars had fused roots and pulp chamber morphology categorized as C‐shaped. There were no significant differences between the frequencies in both samples. Conclusion This study highlighted that a one‐rooted mandibular molar was likely to have a C‐shaped canal. The similarity between ancient and modern samples indicates that the genetic make‐up since the European conquest has not affected the expression of this trait. This study supports the theory that the Mayan population has a relationship with the Northeast Asian population.