ENDODONTIC TREATMENT OF C-SHAPED MANDIBULAR SECOND MOLARS: REPORT OF FOUR CASES

Abstract

A thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the root canal system is required to achieve successful root canal therapy. Although its most common configuration of the mandibular second molars is having two roots and three canals, they show many different variations. One example of such variations is the C-shaped root and canal configuration. The main anatomic feature of this variant root and canal system is the presence of fins or webs connecting individual mesial and distal canals, which make the canal cross-sectional and 3D shaped variable along the root. This aberrant configuration gives some technical difficulties to the specialist especially during the cleaning, shaping and obturation of the root canal system. This clinical report describes the successful root canal treatments of four mandibular second molars with C-shaped root and canal systems.