Characteristics of the Apical Foramen
- The average size of the apical foramen orifice is 0.3 to 0.4mm in diameter.
- There can be two or more foramina separated by a portion of dentin and cementum or by cementum only.
- The largest foramen is designated as the apical foramen, while the rest are considered accessory foramina.
- Each tooth has an apical foramen.
- The apical foramen is located 0.5mm to 1.5mm from the apex of the tooth.
Apical Delta
- Apical delta refers to the branching pattern of small accessory canals and minor foramina at the tip or apex of some tooth roots.
- The pattern resembles a river delta when viewed under a microscope.
- The apical delta can complicate endodontic treatment as there may be more than one apical foramen.
- The anatomy of the apical delta area is complex with several portals of entry to the root canal.
- The presence of an apical delta may reduce the likelihood of successful endodontic treatment.
Endodontic Treatment
- Thoroughly debriding the pulp space and removing all necrotic tissue is important in endodontics.
- Ideally, the debridement should terminate exactly at the apical foramen.
- Determining the exact position of the apical foramen can be challenging and requires radiography or the use of an electronic apex locator.
- Multiple small accessory canals in the root apex area can form an apical delta, complicating endodontic treatment.
- Apicoectomy, the removal of the root tip, may be performed to eliminate the apical delta and increase the chances of successful healing.
References
- 'Color Atlas and Textbook of Oral Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology' by B. K. Berkovitz, G. R. Holland, B. J. Moxham provides information on the apical foramen.
- 'Einführung in die Zahnerhaltung' by Elmar Hellwig, Joachim Klimek, Thomas Attin also discusses the apical foramen.
- The information was retrieved from the Wikipedia page on the apical foramen.
Related Categories
- The apical foramen is categorised as a part of the tooth.
- There are dentistry stub articles that provide limited information on the apical foramen.
- There are anatomy stub articles that provide limited information on the apical foramen.
- The article has multiple names listed as authors.
- The article has short descriptions that match the information on Wikidata.
In dental anatomy, the apical foramen, literally translated "small opening of the apex," is the tooth's natural opening, found at the root's very tip—that is, the root's apex—whereby an artery, vein, and nerve enter the tooth and commingle with the tooth's internal soft tissue, called pulp. Additionally, the apical foramen is the point where the pulp meets the periodontal tissues, the connective tissues that surround and support the tooth. The foreman is located 0.5mm to 1.5mm from the apex of the tooth. Each tooth has an apical foreman.
| Apical foramen | |
|---|---|
 Apical foramina on a wisdom tooth | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | foramen apicis dentis |
| TA98 | A05.1.03.050 |
| TA2 | 933 |
| FMA | 57159 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
