Radix paramolaris in permanent mandibular molars: identification and morphology.

The Royal Dental College, Copenhagen, houses an extensive collection of human teeth which have been extracted in Denmark. The collection presently includes 203 permanent mandibular molars with a root complex containing a facially-located supernumerary root. This macrostructure is named radix paramolaris (RP). By analyzing the large number of specimens available it was possible to establish uniform and precise criteria for the identification of RP on M1 inf, M2 inf, and M3 inf. The analyses included both separate and non-separate RP. The representation of the RP variants according to tooth type was mapped. Furthermore, the following clinically relevant variables with respect to RP were registered: degree of separation, divergence, apical bend, apical gracility, and fusion. Because of the nature of the material, the study was mostly qualitative and non-metric. The results are aimed primarily at clinical dentists, dental morphologists, and dental anthropologists.