Publication: The Occurrence of an Optical Phenomenon: “The Butterfly Effect” in Cross Section of Extracted Mandibular First Premolars
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
The butterfly effect is an optical phenomenon with endodontic and a restorative
significance that can be seen in cross-sections of some of the tooth roots.
Objective
To investigate occurrence of butterfly effect in roots of extracted human mandibular
first premolars and to determine differences in tubule density in mesio-distal and
bucco-lingual direction of sections of root having buttery effect.
Method
It was an prospective experimental study comprised of twenty single rooted
extracted mandibular first premolars. Each tooth was divided into three sections:
coronal, middle and apical third. Then, nine sections of each sample were taken,
three from each section i.e., coronal, middle and apical third, hence making sample
size of total 180. All the selected samples were ground into 1 mm thickness and
examined under 20X magnification microscope. Five samples presenting with the
butterfly effect were selected and prepared for Scanning Electron Microscope to
evaluate the difference in density of dentinal tubules among mesio-distal and bucco-
lingual direction. Mann Whitney U test was applied to find out the significance of
butterfly effect among different sections. The data was entered in Microsoft excel
sheet and transferred to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for
statistical analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from Kathmandu University School
of Medical Sciences institutional review committee (IRC No.:127/16).
Result
Butterfly effect was seen in 19.4% of sample. Apical sections had more occurrence
rate (30%) followed by middle (23.3%), and coronal sections (5%). Female predilection
(30%) for occurrence was seen. Under SEM, the samples with butterfly effect
presented with higher median density (2349.32 number/mm2) of dentinal tubules in
bucco-lingual section as compared to mesio-distal section (1208.23 number/mm2).
Conclusion
Butterfly effect was present in 19% of the samples. Butterfly effect is more seen on
aplical section of tooth. Female have more chance of having butterfly effect than
male.
KEY WORDS
Butterfly effect, Dentinal tubules, Optical phenomenon, Tubular sclerosis, Vertical
root fracture
Description
Acharya N,1 Srii R,2 Hasan R,3 Kafle D,4 Dahal S,5 Saito T6
1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
Institute of Medicine
Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital
Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Maharajgunj
Kathmandu, Nepal
2Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology
Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences
KK Campus, Karnataka, India
3Department of Oral Rehabilitation
School of Dentistry, Health Science University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan
4Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthodontics
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences
Dhulikhel Hospital, Kavre, Nepal
5Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of
Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital
Maharajgunj medical Campus, Maharajgunj
Kathmandu, Nepal
6Department of Clinical Cariology and Endodontology
Health Science University of Hokkaido
Hokkaido, Japan
Keywords
Butterfly effect, Dentinal tubules, Optical phenomenon, Tubular sclerosis, Vertical root fracture