Morphological Variations of the Root Canal System in C-shaped Roots of the Mandibular Second Molar in a Japanese Population

Abstract

Morphologicalvariations of the root canalsystem of C-shaped roots in mandibular second molars of young Japanese patients (aged 20 to 29 years old) were analyzed by using multi- detector row computed tomography (MDCT) in order to clarify the entire picture from the orifice to the apex. CT images were reconstructed so that the axialimage was inclined perpendicular to the long axis of teeth. C-shaped roots were more frequently found in females (54.0%) than in males (36.7%) (p<0.01). One root canal was most frequently found on the coronalside, and the root canalnumbers increased to the apex. Thus, in many cases at the coronallevelthe canalformed letter?C@, but it ramified into increasingly smaller canals towards the apex. The complex configuration of the root canals may be related to various degree of fusion in the roots. The results of this study might be used for understanding the nature of C-shaped root canals.