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. 2019 Jul 18;4(2):62-68.
doi: 10.14744/eej.2019.19480. eCollection 2019.

Evaluation of Root and Root Canal Morphology of Mandibular First and Second Molars in a Greek Population: A CBCT Study

Eleni Kantilieraki  1 , Antigoni Delantoni  1 , Christos Angelopoulos  1 , Panagiotis Beltes  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of Root and Root Canal Morphology of Mandibular First and Second Molars in a Greek Population: A CBCT Study

Eleni Kantilieraki et al. Eur Endod J. .

Abstract

Objective: Τo study the number of roots, canal configurations, and frequency of morphological variations in mandibular first and second molars in a Greek population.

Methods: This study examined 478 mandibular first molars and 524 mandibular second molars using a high-resolution cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The number of roots was recorded and the root canal configuration was categorized based on the classification by Vertucci. The presence and configuration of C-shaped root canals were recorded and they were classified according to the Fan classification. The symmetry between the right and the left side was also evaluated.

Results: Among the mandibular first molars, 0.2% teeth were single-rooted, 96.4% were two-rooted, and 3.3% were three-rooted. In the mandibular second molars, 12.2%, 82.8%, and 4.9% were single-rooted, two-rooted, and three-rooted, respectively. In two-rooted mandibular first and second molars, the most frequent root canal pattern observed was Vertucci's type II in the mesial root (69.8% and 64.1%, respectively) and Vertucci's type I in the distal root (81.7% and 97.7%, respectively). Three-rooted molars showed one oval-shaped mesial root and two distal roots (56.2% in first molars, 65.4% in second molars), where each distal root contained a single root canal (type I), and the mesial root presented either type II (53.3%), IV (26.6%), I (13.3%), or V (6.6%) canal configurations. C-shaped canals were only detected in mandibular second molars (5.3% of teeth, 10.8% of individuals), and bilateral occurrence was observed in 24.5% patients. The most frequent root canal pattern was Fan's C1 type at the orifice, followed by C3a and C3b in the coronal and middle third, which joined into a single canal (C4) apically.

Conclusion: The characteristics of the root and root canal anatomy of the mandibular first and second molars of Greek individuals were similar to those observed in Caucasians. However, the higher incidence of third roots in mandibular molars in Greek individuals compared to Caucasians requires absolute clinical awareness.

Keywords: Cone-beam computed tomography; greek population; mandibular molars; root canal morphology; root morphology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures Conflict of interest: The authors deny any conflicts of interest related to this study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Modified Melton’s classification of C-shaped root canal configuration presented through axial slices in mandibular second molars
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mandibular first and second molars displaying a third root: (a) Separate mesiobuccal root, (b) radix entomolaris type AC (separate root located centrally in the lingual aspect), (c) Separate mesiobuccal root
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a-d) Mandibular first molar with three root canals in the mesial root showing a separate middle mesial canal in the coronal third (b), joining with an ismuthus into the mesiolingual (c). The course of the canal(s) cannot be identified in the apical third (d)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Cases of mandibular second molars with C-shaped root canal configuration: (a) type C1 resulting in C5 apically, (b) type C2 leading to type C3b apically, (c) C-shaped orifice and type C3a configuration of the root canals, (d) type C4
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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