Prevalence of C-shaped root canal in a Brazilian subpopulation: a cone-beam computed tomography analysis.

Daniela Brait Silva Ladeira,Deborah Queiroz Freitas,Adriana Dibo Cruz,Solange Maria Almeida

doi:10.1590/s1806-83242013005000027

Daniela Brait Silva Ladeira, Deborah Queiroz Freitas + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1806-83242013005000027

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to use cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images to evaluate the prevalence and configurations of C-shaped canals in permanent mandibular second molars among members of a Brazilian subpopulation. CBCT exams of 214 patients (406 teeth) were evaluated for: presence of C-shaped root canals, number of canals and direction of the root grooves (buccal or lingual). Of the 214 CBCT images examined, 192 showed intact bilateral molars, which were used to analyze the distribution of unilateral and bilateral occurrences of C-shaped canals. The prevalence of these canals was correlated with gender and age, and the number of canals was correlated with the direction of the root grooves using the chi-squared test (α = 0.05). The prevalence of C-shaped canals was 15.3%. This prevalence did not differ with gender or age. Most of the C-shaped molars had three (43.5%) or two (37.1%)canals; 69.4% of the C-shaped canals were grooved in the buccal direction; 68.3% of the C-shaped cases were unilateral. In conclusion, there was a significant prevalence of C-shaped canals in the mandibular second molars of the population studied; the C-shaped canal system varied in configuration, with a higher prevalence of three and two canals and unilateral occurrence; CBCT is a useful tool for endodontic diagnosis and treatment.

Highlights

Preoperative radiographs may aid in visualizing and observing the anatomy of variant canal systems, since recognition of such variations is an essential prerequisite for successful endodontic diagnosis and treatment
Of the 406 mandibular second molars examined in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, 62 (15.3%) had a C-shaped root canal system
It is difficult to detect the canal systems of mandibular molars with conventional radiography because the images of the roots overlap, especially in C-shaped roots, where the radiographic images may appear in diverse manners, depending on the exact nature and orientation of the root

Summary

Introduction

Preoperative radiographs may aid in visualizing and observing the anatomy of variant canal systems, since recognition of such variations is an essential prerequisite for successful endodontic diagnosis and treatment. One of these variations is the C-shaped canal system, so named because of the axial plane morphology of the root canal, first documented in endodontic literature by Cooke and Cox[1] in 1979. Braz Oral Res., (São Paulo) 2014;28(1):[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]

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