Prevalence of radix accesoria dentis in a northern Peruvian population evaluated by cone-beam tomography

<i>Radix accessoria dentis</i> are anatomical variations of the mandibular molars and identifying them radiographically can be challenging for the clinician, especially in specific areas such as endodontics. The objective this study was to determine the prevalence of <i>radix accessoria dentis</i> evaluated in cone-beam computed tomography in a northern Peruvian population. The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional. The sample consisted of 2640 permanent mandibular first and second molar teeth evaluated by cone beam tomography. Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used. For the analysis of <i>radix accesoria dentis</i>, the axial and coronal views of the tomography were evaluated. Prevalence was evaluated according to sex and according to type of tooth and average length. The statistical analyses used were the chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis H test to find the correlation of the variables. A prevalence of 2.5 % of <i>radix accesoria dentis</i> was determined. According to sex, <i>radix accesoria dentis</i> was present in 1.36 % in females and 1.14 % in males (p > 0.05). The tooth 4.6 obtained the highest prevalence with 1.33 % (p > 0.05) and the average length of <i>radix accesoria dentis</i> found was 9.27 mm (p > 0.05). The prevalence of the <i>radix accesoria dentis</i> evaluated in cone beam tomography in a northern Peruvian population is low. Sex does not influence its presentation. Mandibular first molars are the ones that present the greatest amount of this anatomical variation and the average length of the <i>radix accesoria dentis</i> is less than 10 mm.