Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42655927›Full record

ArticleInternational endodontic journal2026

A Consensus-Based Glossary for Controversial Terminology in Root and Canal Anatomy.

Hany Mohamed Aly Ahmed, Venkateshbabu Nagendrababu, Ali Keleş, Thomas Gerhard Wolf, Henry F Duncan, Ove Andreas Peters, Paul Michael Howell Dummer, Delphi Group for Terminology in Root Canal Anatomy

Abstract readConsensus Statement
In one paragraph

Article in International endodontic journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hany Mohamed Aly AhmedDepartment of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0776-9288
Venkateshbabu NagendrababuDepartment of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3783-3156
Ali KeleşDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu, Türkiye.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2835-767X
Thomas Gerhard WolfDepartment of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4044-1893
Henry F DuncanDivision of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8690-2379
Ove Andreas PetersSchool of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5222-8718
Paul Michael Howell DummerSchool of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0726-7467
Delphi Group for Terminology in Root Canal Anatomy

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo produce a glossary of controversial terminology relating to a variety of anatomical features of root canals. MATERIALS AND

methodsA multi-stage consensus process was designed and applied to generate definitions for controversial terms describing root and canal anatomy. The overall direction of the project was provided by an Executive Group, whereas a separate Task & Finish Group was convened to compile a preliminary list of controversial terms together with proposed definitions. This draft was then circulated to an international panel of 32 experts, who took part in an anonymous, web-based Delphi exercise to give independent feedback. Findings from this Delphi round were subsequently examined and debated during a virtual meeting.

resultsFollowing the Delphi exercise, 14 of the 15 proposed terms achieved the pre-specified consensus threshold, with more than 70% of respondents rating them above 7. Consensus was not initially reached for the remaining term ('furcation accessory canal'); its definition was subsequently amended and put through a further Delphi round, after which agreement was achieved. A follow-up virtual meeting involving 19 experts reviewed the Delphi outcomes and proposed further refinements. In response, the Executive Group and Task & Finish Group prepared the final version of the glossary.

conclusionThrough a rigorous, structured process of international expert consensus, a glossary addressing controversial terminology in root and canal anatomy has been established. This resource offers a dependable basis for consistent, standardised terminology going forward, with relevance across clinical practice, teaching and research.

Indexed as

Dental Pulp CavityTerminology as TopicTooth RootConsensusDelphi TechniqueHumanscontroversialdefinitionsglossaryroot canal anatomyterminology

Identifiers

PMID42655927
PMCPMC13674839

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.