Danger zone in mandibular molars before instrumentation: an in vitro study

The aim of this work was to measure the danger zone in mandibular molars, relating to strip perforations that might affect the mesial root during canal instrumentation. One hundred mesial roots were sectioned 2mm below the furcation and the distal concavities were measured with a microscope from the border of the canals to the outer dentin of the root. The average thickness of the danger zone of the mesial roots was 0.789 +/- 0.182mm. No significant statistical differences were observed comparing the danger zone of mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals.