A novel method for the precise second mesiobuccal canal orifice location: A combined strategy for enhanced clinical practice.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Successful root canal treatment relies on thorough canal disinfection. The second mesiobuccal (MB2) canals in maxillary molars poses a significant clinical challenge due to its complex anatomy and high prevalence. The conventional perpendicular line method for MB2 canal orifice localization has notable limitations in achieving precise point identification. This study evaluates a novel combined method that integrates the perpendicular line and parallel line principles to enhance the accuracy of MB2 canal orifice localization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study analyzed 73 CBCT scans of maxillary first molars with identifiable MB2 canals. A novel combined method integrating the perpendicular line and parallel line principles was compared with the conventional perpendicular line method for MB2 canal orifice localization. Prediction accuracy was evaluated based on coordinate measurements and assessed through analysis of spatial and linear distributions. RESULTS: The combined method demonstrated significantly higher accuracy, with data points tightly clustered near the actual MB2 canal orifice versus the scattered distribution of the perpendicular line method. The 95 % confidence ellipse area was substantially smaller for the combined method (1.63 mm2 vs 2.39 mm2). Across all age and gender groups, the combined method achieved markedly lower median distance errors (P < 0.05), confirming its superior precision. CONCLUSION: The combined method, which integrates the perpendicular line and parallel line principles, demonstrated superior accuracy in MB2 canal orifice localization, providing significant clinical value for the rapid and precise localization of the MB2 canal orifice.