Evaluation of root canal morphology and additional mesiobuccal canals in maxillary molars in the West Texas region.

This study aimed to evaluate the mesiobuccal root canal morphology of maxillary molars with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), categorize the morphology according to the Weine classification, and quantify the prevalence of additional mesiobuccal canals. CBCT scans from patients in El Paso, Texas, were collected. A total of 422 scans (231 maxillary first molars and 191 maxillary second molars) that met the inclusion criteria were examined using 3-dimensional software. The number of canals in the mesiobuccal root at the coronal and apical thirds was recorded, and root canal morphology was categorized based on the Weine classification. Data analysis revealed that 80.5% of maxillary first molars had a second mesiobuccal (MB2) canal, with 77.9% showing an MB2 canal at the chamber level and 30.3% at the apex. In maxillary second molars, 37.2% had an MB2 canal, with 32.5% showing an MB2 canal at the chamber and 13.6% at the apex. The most prevalent Weine classification for maxillary first molars was type II (50.2%), followed by types III (27.7%), I (19.5%), and IV (2.6%); for second molars, the most prevalent was type I (63.4%), followed by types II (23.6%), III (9.3%), and IV (3.7%). The difference in MB2 prevalence between maxillary first and second molars was statistically significant (chi-square test; P < 0.05). These findings emphasize the complexity of maxillary molars and the critical role of CBCT in successful endodontic treatment.