Abstract
The pulp chamber floor of 39 primary first and second molars of 10 mandibuiars of the Indian scull was investigated with a scanning electron microscope for the presence of accessary foramens. All of the teeth investigated were in II A stage of Hellman's dental age.
The teeth were sectioned with a diamond disk with a point of 1.5 mm apical to the external furcation area, and 5 mm coronal to the cervical line. The teeth were washed with a supersonic washer and dried. The specimens were mounted with the pulpal floor facing upward on an aluminium stub, plated with gold and observed with scanning electron microscope.
As a result of this investigation the following conclusions were obtained.
1) Accessary foramens were observed in 4 mandibulars out of 10 mandibulars and in 14 teeth (35.9%) out of 39 teeth.
2) The maximum 10 and minimum one accessary foramen were found with an averrage of 2.8 per tooth.
3) Accessary foramens were observed with high frequency in the central portion of the pulp chamber floor.
4) The diameter of the opening of the accessary foramens of the mandibular first molars were maximum 83μm, minimum 8μm and average 45.4μm. While maximum 51μm, minimum 15μm and average 37.3μm in mandibular second molars.
5) The opening shape of accessary foramens was classified into three types, round 56.4%, oval 28.2% and others 15.4%.
6) Accessary foramen tend to be present bilaterally in the same individual.
7) It seemed that there is an individual difference in the presence or absence of accessary foramen. One individual has many accessary foramens, while another individual lacks accessary foramen.
