Management of a permanent maxillary first molar with two disto buccal canals with the aid of spiral computed tomography: a case report

Abstract

Human molars show considerable anatomic variations with respect to number of roots and root canals. The most common form of the permanent maxillary first molar has three roots and four canals, two mesiobuccal canals and one distobuccal and palatal canal each. 98.3% of maxillary first molar have been reported to have a single distobuccal canal. Two canals were found only 1.7% of the time, hence showing the second disto buccal canal to being a rare occurrence. Conventionally radiographs are used to determine root canal anatomy, which is a 2- dimensional representation of a 3-dimensional object. Diagnostic methods like spiral computerized tomography where a 3 dimensional data is acquired are useful to determine complex morphology. This case report presents the management of a maxillary first molar with two disto buccal root canals confirmed with the aid of computed tomography along with the conventional radiographic method. Computed Tomography scan slices revealed two separate distobuccal canals at the coronal 3rd of the root. The second distobuccal canal was missing in the middle and apical 3rd indicating; it might have joined the distobuccal canal at the middle 3rd area.