Prevalence and morphology of lower second molars with C-Shaped canals: A CBCT analysis.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and morphology of lower second molars with C-shaped configuration among patients at the University of Barcelona Dental Hospital using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Material and methods: CBCT images of 408 patients, comprising 792 lower second molars, were examined to identify C-shaped canals and evaluate their anatomical characteristics. Inclusion criteria required patients to have both lower second molars present. The configuration of C-shaped canals was categorised at three axial root levels. The variables of symmetry, position, gender and age were analysed.

Results: Out of the 792 lower second molars analysed, a total of 65 molars with C-shaped canals were identified in 42 patients, representing a prevalence of 10.2%. The prevalence in females (12.6%) was significantly higher than in males (6.5%). Bilaterality was observed in 54.76% of individuals with C-shaped molars. The C1 configuration was most frequently observed in the coronal third (56%), while the C2 configuration was equally distributed between the coronal and middle thirds (44.1%). The C3 configuration was most prevalent in the middle third (41.4%), and the C4 configuration was predominantly observed in the apical third (96%). Variations in configurations along the root were observed in 70.8% of the molars. The longitudinal groove was predominantly located on the lingual surface of the roots (83.1%).

Conclusions: CBCT is a useful tool to analyse the morphology of the root canal system. Key words:C-shape, anatomy, prevalence studies, root canal, Cone beam computed tomography, mandibular second molar.