INTRODUCTION
A detailed knowledge of both normal and abnormal anatomies of root canal system is an essential prerequisite for successful endodontic therapy.1 The maxillary first molar is considered one of the most complex teeth in the dental arch. The first molar typically has three distinct roots and three or four canals.2 These teeth are frequently observed with the presence of three roots (two buccal and one palatal) along with three or four root canals.3 The incidence of second mesiobuccal (18.6–96.1%), second distobuccal (1.6–9.5%), mesiopalatal (56.8%) and prevalence of distopalatal (1.7%) canals are reported in various studies.4-8 Previous morphologic data indicate that the palatal canals usually have a lower degree of curvature and a larger internal diameter than mesiobuccal and distobuccal canals. Variations in the number, shape, and curvature of palatal canals have been reported, which further indicate the importance of additional investigations with more accurate methods.9
This case report describes the intricacy of maxillary first molar with an unusual morphology of three roots and six canals (two mesiobuccal, two distobuccal, distopalatal, and palatal) which has neither been reported in any clinical or laboratory studies nor clinical case reports so far. This unusual morphology was confirmed with the aid of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning.
CASE REPORT
A 23-year-old male patient reported to the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics with the chief complaint of spontaneous pain and discomfort to thermal stimuli in the maxillary right posterior region for past 2 days. The medical history was noncontributory. On clinical assessment, maxillary right first molar had deep occlusal caries and responded positively to palpation and percussion; tooth mobility was within the physiologic limits and gingival attachment was normal. Vitality testing of the offending tooth with dry ice (R C Ice; Prime Dental Products, India) induced an intense lingering pain, whereas electric pulp testing (Denshine Technology Co., Ltd, Hong Kong) produced a premature response. Intraoral periapical (IOPA) radiograph of the tooth #16 evinced large occlusal radiolucency involving enamel, dentin, and the pulp chamber along with widening of periodontal ligament space in the distobuccal root (Fig. 1). After meticulous clinical and radiographic assessment, a diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis with symptomatic apical periodontitis was established and endodontic therapy was recommended to the patient. Receiving the patient's consent, the treatment was initiated. The offending tooth was anesthetized with 1.8 mL of 2% lignocaine containing 1:200,000 epinephrine (Xylocaine; AstraZeneca Pharma Ind. Ltd., Bangalore, India). Under absolute rubber dam isolation, access cavity preparation was performed using Endo Access Kit (Dentsply, Pennsylvania) (Fig. 2). The chamber floor inspection using DG 16 endodontic explorer (Hu-Friedy, Chicago, Illinois) under 2.5× magnification (Heine, Germany) revealed presence of three main root canal openings: Mesiobuccal, distobuccal, and palatal. The distal canal orifice appeared to be more constricted than routine anatomy indicating an astute radiographic analysis. The conventional triangular access was modified to a trapezoidal shape to improve access to additional canals. To ascertain the presence of additional canals in the mesiobuccal and distobuccal roots and to determine the aberrant anatomical architecture of the tooth, a CBCT scan was performed. The CBCT slices of tooth #16 confirmed the presence of six canals: Two mesiobuccal, two distobuccal, one distopalatal, and palatal (Fig. 3). The CBCT scans provided valuable information regarding the canal configuration and confirmed the six canals that were not appreciated in the conventional radiograph. These images are reconstructed using significantly lower radiation doses compared with conventional periapical radiography. In CBCT scanning, the raw data are acquired during a single sweep of a cone-shaped X-ray source and reciprocal detector around the patient's head. The patient was asymptomatic on the subsequent visit; considering the available information, additional canals were located and instrumented. Working lengths of canals were determined using electronic apex locator (Propex II Dentsply) and confirmed radiographically (Fig. 4). The cleaning and shaping of mesiobuccal, mesiobuccal 1, distobuccal, distobuccal 2, and distopalatal was performed using Hero Shaper File (Micro-Mega) #20 and #25 (4 and 6%). The palatal canal was cleaned and shaped using Protaper Files (Dentsply) (MAF = F2). Obturation was accomplished with lateral compaction technique using gutta-percha points (Dentsply Maillefer, Switzerland) and AH plus resin sealer (Dentsply, De Trey, Germany) (Fig. 5). The tooth received a permanent posterior composite resin core (3M Filtek P60) and was advised a full-coverage porcelain crown (Fig. 6).
Fig. 2:
Endodontic access showing the opening orifices of mesiobuccal (MB1 and MB2), distal (DB1, DB2, and distopalatal), and palatal canals
DISCUSSION
Successful endodontic therapy depends on meticulous cleaning and shaping of the entire pulp space along with complete obturation of the root canal system. The prime reason for failure of endodontic therapy is the incompetence to detect extra roots or root canals.10 Various methods, such as clinical assessment, dye staining, tooth sectioning, scanning electron microscope, radiographs and magnification, etc., have been used for detecting additional canals for both in vitro as well as in vivo evaluation.11 With CBCT scans, it is possible to diagnose unusual root canal anatomy, whereas IOPA radiography is confined to producing two-dimensional image of three-dimensional anatomies. The CBCT has expedited access to root canal morphology by allowing the clinician to examine multiple slices of tooth roots and root canals.12,13 Maxillary first molars have immense variability with respect to number of roots, canals, and anatomy. Extensive studies have deduced that maxillary first molar with three roots and four canals should be considered as the rule rather than the exception.14 Hence, case reports with unusual canal configurations and anomalies of maxillary first molar are of utmost didactic importance. The subsequent elements contribute to the variation found in root canal system of maxillary first molar, namely ethnic background, age, gender of the population studied, design, and methods of the study.15,16 Variations in the root canal anatomy concerning distobuccal, distopalatal, and palatal roots are very infrequent (< 1%); nonetheless, their existence should be thoroughly scrutinized.6 Recent advances in diagnostic technology have led to a paradigm shift, and therefore, CBCT is of paramount importance in dental imaging.