Prevalence and morphometric analysis of taurodontism in first permanent molars: a retrospective cone-beam computed tomography study

Background: Variations in pulp chamber morphology associated with taurodontism can complicate clinical procedures. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables detailed three-dimensional assessment of dental morphology and may improve the detection of taurodont characteristics. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and morphometric characteristics of taurodontism in first permanent molars using CBCT. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed CBCT scans of 105 individuals aged 10–16 years. Maxillary and mandibular permanent first molars were evaluated in sagittal sections. Pulp chamber height (T1) and the distance from the pulp chamber roof to the root apex (T2) were measured. The taurodontism index was calculated as T1/T2 × 100. According to the classification proposed by Shifman and Chanannel, teeth were categorized as normal, hypotaurodont, mesotaurodont, or hypertaurodont. Data distribution was evaluated, and group comparisons were performed using appropriate non-parametric and chi-square tests. A significant level of p < 0.05 was applied. Results: The mean T1 was 3.60 ± 0.76 mm, and T2 was 17.69 ± 2.10 mm, while the T1/T2 ratio was 20.86 ± 6.64. Taurodont morphology was identified in 21.4%of evaluated teeth, including 14.5% hypotaurodont, 6.0% mesotaurodont, and 1.0%hypertaurodont cases. However, pulp chamber height was significantly greater in maxillary molars compared with mandibular molars (p = 0.010). Additionally, the distribution of taurodontism differed significantly between the maxilla and mandible (p = 0.047). Conclusions: CBCT-based morphometric analysis demonstrated that taurodontism was present in a considerable proportion of first permanent molars in children and adolescents. Hypotaurodontism was the most frequently observed subtype. Within the applied inclusion criteria, no significant associations were observed with gender or tooth side. These findings provide CBCT-derived morphometric reference data for first permanent molars in a pediatric population. Furthermore, the results highlight the value of three-dimensional imaging in the accurate identification of taurodont morphology in clinical practice.

Cone-beam computed tomography; Pediatric dentistry; Morphology; Permanent molars; Taurodontism

[1] Dineshshankar J, Sivakumar M, Balasubramanium AM, Kesavan G, Karthikeyan M, Prasad VS. Taurodontism. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences. 2014; 6: S13–S15.

[2] Chetty M, Roomaney IA, Beighton P. Taurodontism in dental genetics. BDJ Open. 2021; 7: 25.

[3] Shifman A, Chanannel I. Prevalence of taurodontism found in radiographic dental examination of 1200 young adult Israeli patients. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. 1978; 6: 200–203.

[4] Keith A. Problems relating to the teeth of the earlier forms of prehistoric man. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 1913; 6: 103–124.

[5] Jafarzadeh H, Azarpazhooh A, Mayhall J. Taurodontism: a review of the condition and endodontic treatment challenges. International Endodontic Journal. 2008; 41: 375–388.

[6] Baranwal AK. Taurodontism: an anatomical challenge to clinical endodontics. Annals of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry. 2016; 2: 105–109.

[7] Jayashankara C, Shivanna AK, Sridhara K, Kumar PS. Taurodontism: a dental rarity. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. 2013; 17: 478.

[8] Bronoosh P, Haghnegahdar A, Dehbozorgi M. Prevalence of taurodontism in premolars and molars in the South of Iran. Journal of Dental Research, Dental Clinics, Dental Prospects. 2012; 6: 21–24.

[9] Jamshidi D, Tofangchiha M, Jafari Pozve N, Mohammadpour M, Nouri B, Hosseinzadeh K. Prevalence of taurodont molars in a selected Iranian adult population. Iranian Endodontic Journal. 2017; 12: 282–287.

[10] Li Y, Qian F, Wang D, Wang Y, Wang W, Tian Y. Prevalence of taurodontism in individuals in Northwest China determined by cone-beam computed tomography images. Heliyon. 2023; 9: e15531.

[11] Li S, Min Z, Wang T, Hou B, Su Z, Zhang C. Prevalence and root canal morphology of taurodontism analyzed by cone-beam computed tomography in Northern China. BMC Oral Health. 2025; 25: 5.

[12] Jabali AH, Chourasia HR, Wasli AS, Alkhayrat AM, Mahnashi HM, Kamly MJ, et al. Taurodontism in maxillary and mandibular molars using cone beam computed tomography in a dental center in Saudi Arabia. Annals of Saudi Medicine. 2021; 41: 232–237.

[13] ur Rehman AZ, Khalid MD, Alam S, Khan IA, Arbab KN, Bashir G. Study evaluating prevalence of taurodonts in patients using cone beam computed tomography. ISRA Medical Journal. 2023; 15: 56–59.

[14] Kırmızı D, Aksoy U, Aksoy S, İnönü N, Orhan K. Evaluation of taurodont and pyramidal mandibular molars prevalence in a group of Turkish Cypriot population by cone beam computed tomography. Cyprus Journal of Medical Sciences. 2025; 10: 8–11.

[15] Pach J, Regulski PA, Tomczyk J, Reymond J, Osipowicz K, Strużycka I. Prevalence of taurodontism in contemporary and historical populations from Radom: a biometric analysis of radiological data. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2023; 12: 5988.

[16] Einy S, Yitzhaki IH, Cohen O, Smidt A, Zilberman U. Taurodontism—prevalence, extent, and clinical challenge in Ashkelon, Israel—a retrospective study. Applied Sciences. 2022; 12: 1062.

[17] Topcuoglu HS, Karataş E, Arslan H, Koseoglu M, Evcil M. The frequency of taurodontism in the Turkish population. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry. 2011; 3: e284–e288.

[18] Patil S, Doni B, Kaswan S, Rahman F. Prevalence of taurodontism in the North Indian population. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry. 2013; 5: e179–e182.

[19] Horner K. Cone beam CT for dental and maxillofacial radiology (evidence based guidelines). European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy: Luxembourg. 2012.

[20] Mendonça RP, Estrela C, Bueno MR, Carvalho TCASG, Estrela LRA, Chilvarquer I. Principles of radiological protection and application of ALARA, ALADA, and ALADAIP: a critical review. Brazilian Oral Research. 2025; 39: e14.

[21] Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang AG, Buchner A. G*Power 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods. 2007; 39: 175–191.

[22] Pertek Hatipoğlu F, Magat G, Karobari MI, Buchanan GD, Kopbayeva M, Taha N, et al. Multinational cross-sectional study and meta-analysis on radicular grooves, C-shaped canals, and taurodontism in mandibular first premolars across 20 countries. Scientific Reports. 2025; 15: 17974.

[23] Bürklein S, Breuer D, Schäfer E. Prevalence of taurodont and pyramidal molars in a German population. Journal of Endodontics. 2011; 37: 158–162.

[24] Narasimhan S, Shetty SR, Kamath V, Al-Daghestani HS, Gopinath VK. Prevalence of taurodontism in the United Arab Emirates: a retrospective study with a global comparison. European Journal of Dental Education. 2025. PMID: 40934948.

[25] Rahman MM, Howlader MR, Chowdhury AFMA, Rafique T, Shahid T, Banik S, et al. The prevalence of taurodontism in permanent first and second molars among the Bangladeshi population and its significance in genetics, forensic odontology, and endodontics. Fortune Journal of Health Sciences. 2025; 8: 336–342.

[26] Frimpong PB, Appau A, Ohene-Marfo E, Adu-Darko YA, Nartey NO. Prevalence of taurodontism in a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Open Journal of Stomatology. 2024; 14: 206–217.

[27] Akbarizadeh F, Pordel M, Paknahad M. Prevalence and characteristics of taurodontism in patients with cleft lip and palate compared to the healthy group: a CBCT study. Chinese Journal of Dental Research. 2024; 27: 327–332.

[28] Davvaz B, Hosseini S, Ghahramani Y, Haghnegahdar A. Exploring taurodontism using cone beam computed tomography: a retrospective study of its morphology and association with C-shaped canal. Journal of Dentistry. 2025; 26: 371–378.

[29] Brochado Martins JF, Georgiou AC, Nunes PD, de Vries R, Afreixo VMA, da Palma PJR, et al. CBCT-assessed outcomes and prognostic factors of primary endodontic treatment and retreatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Endodontics. 2025; 51: 687–706.