It is possible to determine exactly how many canals are in a tooth only with the help of an x-ray. Of course, their number depends on the location. For example, the teeth in the back of the jaw bear the greatest chewing load. Therefore, they require a stronger holding system. They themselves are much larger than the rest of the teeth, have more roots and canals. However, this figure is not constant. It does not mean that the upper and lower incisors will have only one canal. In this matter, everything depends on the individual characteristics of the human jaw system. How many channels in the tooth require filling, the dentist must determine when opening the tooth or by X-ray.
How does a tooth work?
If you do not go deep into this issue, the structure of the teeth can seem quite simple. Above the gum is the so-called crown, and below it are the roots. Their number depends on the degree of pressure on the tooth. The larger it is, the more it holdsthe system is more powerful. Therefore, it is easy to understand how many canals there are in a tooth with a high chewing load potential. Their number is much larger than that of the representatives of the "biting" group.
The root itself is covered with enamel, and under it is dentin. The hole where the base of the tooth is located is called the alveolus. Between them there is a tiny distance represented by connective tissue - periodontium. Nerve bundles and blood vessels are located here.
There is a cavity inside each tooth. It contains the pulp - a collection of nerves and blood vessels. They are responsible for the continuous nutrition of bone formations. If it is removed, the tooth will become dead. The cavity narrows slightly towards the roots. This is the canal. It stretches from the top of the root to its very base.
Percentage ratio
As already noted, the body of each person is individual. Therefore, there are no clear rules to determine how many canals in a tooth a he althy individual should have. Information on this issue in dentistry is given not in numerical terms, but in percentage terms.
Number of channels in the tooth of different jaws
Doctors initially start from the fact that the same teeth on both jaws are significantly different. The first three upper incisors usually have one canal each. In the lower jaw, the situation with these teeth is somewhat different. It can be represented in the following percentage:
- The first incisor usually has one canal (70% of cases). Only every third patient has 2.
- The second tooth in an equal percentage can have one or two canals (56% to 44%).
- On the lower jaw, the third incisor requires special attention. Almost always he has a single channel, and only in 6% of cases there are two.
Premolars are characterized by a larger structure, they are subjected to a stronger load. It can be assumed that the number of channels in them also increases exponentially. However, everything is not so simple here either.
How many canals are in tooth 4? This number usually refers to the first premolar. In the upper jaw, only 9% of the teeth have a single canal. In 6% of cases, their number can increase to three. The rest are usually found with two branches. The next premolar is the 5th tooth. How many channels does he have? There is more pressure on this tooth. However, this does not affect the number of channels. Only in 1% their number is three.
On the lower jaw, the situation is different. The first, as well as the second premolars, are generally not three-channeled. In 74% of cases, the four and 89% of the five have only one branch.
Molars are considered larger teeth. Therefore, the number of channels they rightly increases. Sixes on the upper jaw can have either three or all four branches. The probability in this case is about the same. It is extremely rare for the picture to change in the lower jaw. Usually, as many channels in the upper teeth, as many in the lower.
Posterior molars are characterized by the followingpercentage:
- Top seven: 30% to 70% four and three channels respectively.
- Bottom seven: 77% to 13% three and two branches.
The back molars do not differ much in their structure. Therefore, any dentist can say almost 100% correctly how many canals a person has in the 7th tooth.
Let's talk about wisdom teeth
The wisdom tooth is a very unique phenomenon that does not fall under the statistics. The upper one can have from one to five channels, while the lower one has three. Often during autopsy treatment, additional branches are found. Therefore, it is very difficult to say exactly how many channels are in the lower wisdom teeth.
They are also distinguished by their irregular shape. It is rare to find a straight channel without a narrow passage. This feature significantly complicates the treatment process.
Wrong opinion
Tooth, as you know, consists of roots and subcrown part. Often there is an erroneous opinion that there are as many canals in molars as there are roots. This is not true at all. Branches very often diverge and even bifurcate near the pulp. Moreover, several channels can run simultaneously in one root almost parallel to each other.
Given the listed features of the structure of the teeth, dentists need to be very careful about the treatment procedure. If the doctor misses one of the channels, the therapy will have to be repeated after a while.
Root Canal Treatment
The development of modern dentistry increasingly allows you to save those teeth that literally 10 years ago had to be removed due to the impossibility of treatment. Root canal therapy is a rather complicated procedure. Branches are located near the pulp. It is represented by many blood vessels and nerve bundles. Any wrong decision by the dentist can lead to the death of the tooth. Today, a separate section of dentistry, endodontics, deals with root canal treatment.
The most common form of pathology, in which the patient is forced to seek help from specialists in this field, is an inflammatory process. Lack of timely treatment may result in soft tissue damage inside the canal. Most often, various ailments such as caries lead to the pathological process. However, appropriate treatment may be needed for periodontitis.
Measures to prevent dental diseases
In order to bypass any pathologies associated with teeth, it is necessary to monitor oral hygiene.
- Dentists do not recommend brushing immediately after eating. Better to wait 20-30 minutes.
- To avoid the accumulation of pathogenic microbes, you need to use special rinses. If it is not possible to purchase a ready-made product, you can make it at home. For this, ordinary chamomile tea or a decoction on oak bark is suitable.
- You should brush your teeth no more than 2 times a day, because the enameltends to thin out gradually.
Such simple recommendations allow you to avoid dental diseases. However, do not forget that you should visit the dentist twice a year.
Conclusion
Now you know the features of the structure of the teeth and can imagine the procedure for their treatment. If someone suddenly asks how many canals are in the 6th tooth, such a question will not confuse you. The information presented in today's article is useful for everyone.
