Assessment of Incomplete Apical Bone Coverage of Maxillary Premolar and Molar Roots Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in 161 Dogs

This retrospective study assessed maxillary premolar and molar teeth and identified roots with incomplete apical bone coverage using cone beam computed tomography in 161 dogs. The associated dorsal anatomic sites that the roots communicated with were the ventral nasal meatus, maxillary recess, infraorbital canal, and pterygopalatine fossa. The study found that all roots of the maxillary premolar and molar teeth have the potential for incomplete apical bone coverage, with 26.7% having incomplete apical bone coverage. No significant association with sex was found. A significant association with weight was found, and this lowered with increasing body weight. Facial index, as a determinate of skull shape, was found to be significant in only 35.7% of roots in univariate and 14.2% of roots in multivariate modeling. Knowledge of the anatomy of these roots plays an important role in safe and effective extraction techniques, in reducing iatrogenic trauma, and in understanding the potential local effects of periodontal and endodontic disease.