• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2016

This case report describes a unique C-shaped mandibular second premolar with four canals and three apical foramina and its endodontic management with the aid of cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT). C-shaped root canal morphology with four canals was identified under a dental operating microscope. A CBCT scan was taken to evaluate the aberrant root canal anatomy and devise a better instrumentation strategy based on the anatomy. All canals were instrumented to have a 0.05 taper using 1.0 mm step-back filing with appropriate apical sizes determined from the CBCT scan images and filled using a warm vertical compaction technique. A C-shaped mandibular second premolar with multiple canals is an anatomically rare case for clinicians, yet its endodontic treatment may require a careful instrumentation strategy due to the difficulty in disinfecting the canals in the thin root area without compromising the root structure.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.42.1-42.7
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the C-shaped root canal anatomy of mandibular second molars in a Korean population. Materials and Methods: A total of 542 teeth were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The canal shapes were classified according to a modified version of Melton's method at the level where the pulp chamber floor became discernible. Results: Of the 542 mandibular second molars, 215 (39.8%) had C-shaped canals, 330 (53%) had 3 canals, 17 (3.3%) had 2 canals, 12 (2.2%) had 4 canals, and 8 (1.7%) had 1 canal. The prevalence of C-shaped canals was 47.8% in females and 28.4% in males. Seventy-seven percent of the C-shaped canals showed a bilateral appearance. The prevalence of C-shaped canals showed no difference according to age or tooth position. Most teeth with a C-shaped canal system presented Melton's type II (45.6%) and type III (32.1%) configurations. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of C-shaped canals in the mandibular second molars of the Korean population studied. CBCT is expected to be useful for endodontic diagnosis and treatment planning of mandibular second molars.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of root fusion and C-shaped root canals in maxillary molars, and to classify the types of C-shaped canal by analyzing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in a Korean population. Materials and Methods: Digitized CBCT images from 911 subjects were obtained in Chosun University Dental Hospital between February 2010 and July 2012 for orthodontic treatment. Among them, a total of selected 3,553 data of maxillary molars were analyzed retrospectively. Tomography sections in the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes were displayed by PiViewstar and Rapidia MPR software (Infinitt Co.). The incidence and types of root fusion and C-shaped root canals were evaluated and the incidence between the first and the second molar was compared using Chi-square test. Results: Root fusion was present in 3.2% of the first molars and 19.5% of the second molars, and fusion of mesiobuccal and palatal root was dominant. C-shaped root canals were present in 0.8% of the first molars and 2.7% of the second molars. The frequency of root fusion and C-shaped canal was significantly higher in the second molar than the first molar (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In a Korean population, maxillary molars showed total 11.3% of root fusion and 1.8% of C-shaped root canals. Furthermore, root fusion and C-shaped root canals were seen more frequently in the maxillary second molars.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.203-210
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of the C-shaped canal of permanent mandibular second molar (PMSM) in Korean sub-population using Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) data and analyze the types of C-shaped canal. Materials & Methods: The protocol for this study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Pusan National University Hospital (E-2011039). Among the CBCT images taken of patients who visited the St. Bennedict Dental Hospital (Busan, Korea) from May 2008 to April 2011 for implant surgery and surgical removal of impacted teeth, high-quality CBCTs from 705 patients (361 male and 342 female) were screened and 607 PMSMs of 383 patients were evaluated retrospectively. All PMSMs were anatomically analyzed in detail by using image viewer software (EasyDent; Vatech). PMSMs were evaluated in the axial plane to investigate the shape of root and canals. The C-shaped canals were classified into five types. The total incidence, gender ratio, bilateral and unilateral appearance. and the correlation between right-side and left-side occurrences of C-shaped PMSMs were computed and compared statistically using the chi-square test. Results: Among the 607 PMSMs of 383 CBCTs of 187 females and 196 males, 198 PMSMs(32.6%) had C-shaped root and 158 PMSMs(26.0%) had C-shaped canals. The shape of C-shaped root canals at the furcalion level did not have significant change at the level of mid root (P<0.0001). Female had more prevalence of C-shaped root canals than male (P<0.0001). The prevalence of bilateral occurrence of C-shaped root canals was higher than unilateral occurrence. Conclusions: The occurrence of C-shaped PMSMs among a Korean population was 32.6% and was higher than other countries and ethnicities. Understanding the prevalence of PMSMs with a C-shaped root and/or canal in a Korean population may be useful for successful endodontic treatments.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2009

Purpose: To investigate the incidence and prevalence of C-shaped root canal using computed tomographic images of head and neck in Korean population. Materials and Methods : Regardless of each examination purpose, randomly selected 268 examples which have serial axial computed tomographic images with 8 normal molars in maxilla and mandible were selected and investigated. Defined C-shaped root canal and we could get 82 proper image examples in view of this definition. These were detected and investigated of incidence and prevalence of C-shaped root canal. Results: C-shaped root canals were found in 82 examples among 268 (30.6%) and 147 teeth. They were only found on molar area, and the highest incidence was 37.41% of left mandibular second molars, and the lowest was 2.04% of right maxillary second molars. On prevalence of tooth position, mandibular second molar was the highest, 65% of C-shaped root canal teeth and maxillary second molar was 6% the lowest. Conclusion: 31% of randomly selected CT images no considering check-up reason have C-shaped root canals. The C-shaped root canals of mandibular second molar are found most frequently and they are also detectable on maxilla. On Korean population, C-shaped root canals are one of conditions that have to concern with dental treatment for it appears at a high prevalence relatively. (Korean J Oral Maxillofac Radiol 2009; 39: 75-9)

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.346-349
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• 2009

Mandibular second molars have many variations in canal configuration. Technical modifications in cleaning, shaping and obturation are required. The purpose of this study was to investigate the root canal anatomy of mandibular second molars. 86 teeth of 85 patients were accessed and evaluated with taking radiographs for working length determination. 27 teeth(31.4%) had C-shaped canals, 43 teeth(50%) had 3 canals, 11 teeth(12.7%) had 4 canals, 5 teeth(5.8%) had 2 canals. Incidence of C-shaped canal was 31.7% in male and 31.1% in female. 30.9% of left mandibular second molar and 31.8% of right mandibular second molar showed C-shaped canals.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to present a method for endodontic management of a maxillary first molar with unusual C-shaped morphology of the buccal root verified by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. This rare anatomical variation was confirmed using CBCT, and nonsurgical endodontic treatment was performed by meticulous evaluation of the pulpal floor. Posttreatment image revealed 3 independent canals in the buccal root obturated efficiently to the accepted lengths in all 3 canals. Our study describes a unique C-shaped variation of the root canal system in a maxillary first molar, involving the 3 buccal canals. In addition, our study highlights the usefulness of CBCT imaging for accurate diagnosis and management of this unusual canal morphology.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.262-270
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the healing rate of non-surgical endodontic treatment between C-shaped and non-C-shaped mandibular second molars. Materials and Methods: Clinical records and radiological images of patients who had undergone endodontic treatment on mandibular second molars between 2007 and 2014 were screened. The periapical index scoring system was applied to compare healing outcomes. Information about preoperative and postoperative factors as well as the demographic data of the patients was acquired and evaluated using chi-square and multinomial logistic regression tests. Results: The total healing rate was 68.4%. Healing rates for the mandibular second molar were 70.9% in C-shaped canals (n = 79) and 66.6% in non-C-shaped ones (n = 117). The difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The presence of a C-shaped canal in the mandibular second molar did not have a significantly negative effect on healing after treatment. Instead, proper pulpal diagnosis and final restoration were indicated as having significantly greater influence on the healing outcomes of C-shaped and non-C-shaped canals, respectively.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.731-738
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• 1997

A retrospective in vivo study of endodontically treated mandiblar molars was conducted. The radilographs and clinical records of mandibular molars that had been treated endodontically in the Dental hospital of Yonsei University from 1986 to July 1997 were reviewed and categorized. A total of 1751 cases were studied and following results were obtained. 1. The number of root canals in mandibular first permanent molar in a Korean population revealed three in 53.2 %, four in 23.0 %, two in 18.4 %, C-shaped canal in 5.0 %, and one in 0.4 %. 2. In mandibular second molar, three canals was observed in 53.2 %, four in 22.2 %, two in 14.9%, C-shaped canal in 9.1 %, and one in 0.6%. 3. In the results of the percentage of 4 canals of mandibular first molars at various age, before age 20, 37.7 % was obtained whereas 19.3 % after 30. 4. 7.94 % of mandibular first molars examined were found to have three roots. 5. The mandibular second molar had C-shaped canals in 9.1 %.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of endodontic treatment of mandibular second molar with C-shaped canal in elderly patients and related factors affecting the survival of the tooth. Materials and Methods: From 2010 to 2015, the survival rate following endodontic treatment was evaluated in elderly patients over 60 years who visited the Veterans Health Service Medical Center for endodontic treatment. The presence of C-shaped canals was confirmed using clinical records and radiographic features. Patient's age, sex, systemic diseases, tooth location, vitality, signs and symptoms, fractures, caries, apical radiolucency, canal shaping methods, sealer leakage, filling voids, and restoration of prosthesis were included in the analyses as confounding variables. The survival rate of teeth was analyzed using Kaplan-Meire analysis and the relationship between the survival rate and variables was analyzed using Simple and Multiple Cox regression analysis. Result: In total, 107 teeth in elderly patients had C-shaped canal. The survival rate of teeth that received endodontic treatment was 63.70%. None of the factors investigated significantly influenced the survival rate (P>0.05). Conclusion: In elderly patients with C-shaped canal, the survival rate after root canal treatment was not significantly different from that of other mandibular molars.