Apical foramen position in relation to proximal root surfaces of the premolar teeth in Kurdistan region of Iraq: A retrospective CBCT assessment

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine the location of the apical foramen (AF) in relation to the root surfaces of human permanent premolar teeth in the population of Iraqi Kurdistan using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging.
Methods: CBCT images from 103 patients from the Iraqi Kurdistan region were evaluated. Multiplanar images were captured to check the position of the AF in relation to the root canal surfaces of premolars. The data were analyzed using Fisher’s, Chi-square, and t-tests.
Results: The most common AF location of all premolars was central, followed by distal and then mesial, except for the mandibular right second premolar where central and mesial were the most prevalent. The mean distance between the AF and anatomic apex on the right side of all the first premolars was 0.6205 mm. That of the second premolars was 0.6205 mm in males and 0.5854 mm in females. There was no significant difference between both sides and genders.
Conclusion: In the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the most common location for the apical foramina of all premolar teeth is central AF, followed by the distal location. A minimum 1 mm of distance from the anatomic apex in mandibular premolars could be appropriate for root canal therapy.