C-SHAPED CONFIGURATION OF THE ROOT CANAL SYSTEM – PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Introduction: The patients with C-shaped configu-ration of the root canal system are definitely a problem in the everyday dental practice. The C-shaped configuration of the root canal can be seen in the mandibular and maxil-lary molars. The treatment of these teeth is very difficult. Purpose: To trace the treatment of clinical cases with C-shaped configuration of the root canal system. Material and methods: There are some different cases that are described with a C-shaped configuration of the root canal system with one, two, three and four sepa-rate root canals. Careful exploration of the floor of the pulp chamber, inspection with magnification, use of ultrasonic irrigation and a modified filling technique are of particular use. Results and Discussion: Clinical cases of a C-shaped pulp chamber and root canal system shows that this root canal aberration occurs in a wide variety and variabil-ity with a single root canal up to two, three and four sepa-rate root canals. The diameter of the root canal themselves also varies from very wide to such with a small diameter. Conclusions: Knowledge of the different anatomi-cal variations will improve the endododntic practice of the general dental practitioners. The C-shaped root canal configuration was first documented in endodontic literature by Cooke and Cox in 1979 and is so named for the cross-sectional morphology of the root and root canal of the molar teeth [2]. In these cases instead of the typical shape of the pulp chamber with three root canals, there are the C-shaped orifice of the root canal on the mandibular molars. C-shaped root canal sys-tem is a single, ribbon-shaped orifice with an arc of 180º or more (Figure 1). Most often, the C-shape of the pulp chamber is used to describe the mandibular second molars, the maxillary first molars (0.92%) and the maxillary sec-ond molars (4.9%) [2, 3, 4, 13, 15]. Single cases of man-dibular first molars and mandibular first premolars are re-ported [14, 15, 16]. Fig. 1. C-shaped configuration of the root canal system of mandibular second molar.