Analysis of C-shaped Canals by Panoramic Radiography and Cone-beam Computed Tomography: Root-type Specificity by Longitudinal Distribution

Prevalence of C-shaped second mandibular molar canals in the population of central Serbia: A cone-beam computed tomography study

“…In order to ensure successful endodontic treatment and to avoid procedural errors during chemo-mechanical preparation and definitive obturation of tooth root canal, it is important to know and find out the exact root canal morphology (1,2). The internal morphology of the tooth root could be very complex, with differently shaped canals on cross-sections, including round, oval or irregular.…”

“…The internal morphology of the tooth root could be very complex, with differently shaped canals on cross-sections, including round, oval or irregular. C-shaped canals were first described in 1979 as an anatomic variation of the root canal system in which individual mesial and distal canals are connected by a slit or a network of access canals forming the distinctive shape resembling letter -C‖ on the axial cross-section (2)(3)(4). Treatment of these canal systems may be impeded due to the varying canal lumen diameter and the dentine wall thickness, thus making it necessary to diagnose properly the C-shaped canal at the initiation of the treatment (5,6).…”

“…The prevalence of the C-shaped canal is the highest in second mandibular molars, ranging from 2.7% to 44.5%. However, literature showed that these types of canals could be present in second maxillary premolars and molars, or even in the second maxillary incisors (2,3). It has been shown that the prevalence of C-shaped canals has а geographical, ethnic and racial predilection.…”

“…Standard radiographic methods are insufficient to diagnose C-shaped canals because of a superimposition of the structures on a two-dimensional image; thus, practitioners are encouraged to use Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) for treatment planning and therapy of these canals (8,9). Previous studies have shown that CBCT is a precise, noninvasive diagnostic tool that could be used for the visualization of complicated root canal morphology, although it has not been yet introduced as a routine method in endodontics (2,4). Prevalence and configuration of C-shaped canal systems in second mandibular molars have never been examined in Serbian population.…”

Endodontic treatment of a hypertaurodontic mandibular left second molar in a patient with many taurodonts combined with multiple pulp stones

“…The severity of taurodontism could be identified from radiographs by dividing the vertical height of the pulp chamber by the distance between the lowest point of the roof of the pulp chamber and the apex of the longest root and then multiplying the number by 100, thus defining the taurodontic index (TI). Until now, very few studies have been focused on the interest of the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging in the diagnosis and in the evaluation of the endodontic threedimensional configuration of taurodonts (4,(9)(10)(11)(12). Hypertaurodontism is less frequently found than hypotaurodontism in the general population (7).…”