IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS)

e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 16, Issue 6 Ver. II (June. 2017), PP 125-129
www.iosrjournals.org

Endodontic Management of Four Rooted Maxillary Second

Molar Using CBCT as A Diagnostic Aid -A Case Report
Dr. Rizwan Qureshi1, Dr. Kriti Sharma1, Dr. Niharika Mishra2,
Dr. Manish Agarwal1, Dr.Mahesh Pratap Singh1.
1
(Department Of Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics, Peoples College Of Dental Sciences And Research
Centre/ Peoples University, India)
2
(Department Of Conservative Dentistry And Endodontis, Mansarovar Dental College And Research Centre,
Bhopal, India)

Abstract: Successful Endodontic treatment depends upon Adequate knowledge about the morphology of root
canal system and diagnosing the anatomic variants to avoid missed canals. Maxillary second molars usually
present with two buccal and one palatal root. Occurrence of an extra palatal root is a rare scenario with
prevalence of around 1.4%.. The following case report describes endodontic management of maxillary second
molar with an unusual morphology of two independent palatal roots identified using CBCT. The access cavity
design was modified and the chemo-mechanical preparation of root canals was done using rotary NiTi files and
a separated instrument was bypassed and obturation was done using Endocem MTA sealer.
Keywords: Anatomic Variations, CBCT, Radix Mesiolingualis, Endocem MTA.

I. Introduction
Knowledge of the morphology and an awareness of unusual anatomy are essential for the successful
endodontic treatment. Undetected anatomical variations of roots or root canals which remain untreated are the
main reasons for endodontic failure. DOW &INGLE have attributed a failure rate of 2.88% to unfilled canals
during root canal therapy2. Therefore thorough knowledge of roots and root canal morphology are essential.
Maxillary molars are one of the most complex teeth by virtue of their multifaceted internal and external anatomy
and second molar is no exception. A literature search revealed that various authors reporting these variations in
the maxillary molars have used numerous terminologies to define their roots and canals.the second mesiobuccal
canals which has been variously cited as MB2, mesiopalatal, second mesiobuccaland the mesiolingual canals3,4,5,6
.It has been widely accepted as MB2 subsequently the third mesiobuccal canal was termed as MB 37. Also various
authors have interchangeably used the term mesiopalatal to describe both the MB 2 as well as mesial of the two
palatal canals.
Normally, maxillary second molar has mesiobuccal, a distobuccal and a palatal root. The presence of
two palatal roots in the second maxillary molars is a rare phenomenon8. Peikoff et al observed 1.4% of
maxillary second molar as having two palatal roots9. While Libfeld and Rotstein reported a 0.4% incidence of 4
rooted maxillary second molars.10 The four rooted anatomy in its various forms are very rare in the maxillary
first molar .However it is more likely to occur in the second or third maxillary molar. 10,11,12 There is higher
tendency towards fusion of two or three roots. Whenever two palatal roots exists in maxillary molars ,one of
them is the normal palatal root , other is supernumerary structure which can be located either mesiolingually
(radix mesiolingualis) or distolingually (radix distolingualis). 13 Conventional radiographic interpretation of such
anatomy is challenging due to the usual close relationship of these roots and the possible superimposition of
zygomatic arch on radiographic images. Cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) views are beneficial in
interpreting the morphology of these roots and their degree of separation from the adjacent root. This case also
deals with the management of a separated instrument in a conservative approach.

II. Case Report

A 62-year-old male patient reported with the chief complaint of on and off swelling in upper left back
tooth region for last few days. The pain was aggravated on mastication. The clinical examination revealed an old
amalgam restoration with secondary caries and marginal fracture, and a draining sinus in relation to 27 in the
buccal vestibule. The tooth was mildly tender on percussion. His medical history was non-contributory. Pulp
sensitivity test were performed electric and thermal, which suggested tooth to be nonvital and intraoral peri-
apical radiograph of 27 revealed a radiopaque restoration and an unclear outline of the palatal root (fig.1) a
periapical lesion was present in relation to mesiopalatal root of 27. Based on clinical and radiographic
examination, a diagnosis of Chronic Periapical Abscess with 27 was established. There was unclear outline of
palatal root and a hazy bifurcation was observed in palatal root in the periapical radiograph giving an impression

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 Endodontic Management Of Four Rooted Maxillary Second Molar Using CBCT…

of a second root. A CBCT was advised to confirm the finding. CBCT revealed the details 3dimentionally and
slices were obtained in coronal/axial and transverse sections. The presence of extra root was confirmed and
viewed in buccal aspect (fig.2) and lingual aspect (fig.3). The axial section confirmed the root canal
configuration and two distinct separate palatal roots were confirmed. Transverse sections revealed the root canal
pattern which corresponded to Wein’s type I anatomy.
After the confirmation of findings from CBCT the endodontic treatment was initiated in 27. The tooth
was anesthetized and isolated under a rubber dam to prepare the access cavity. Since the extra root was present
more mesiopalatally the shape of access cavity was modified to a trapezoidal shape extending in a mesio palatal
direction to approach the extra orifice. Biomechanical preparation was done using K-file and Protaper Universal
files (Densply Mallefer , Switzerland) in a crown down fashion and working length was established through
electronic apex locator ( Root ZX, JMorita, Japan). Inspite of modification in the access cavity an instrument
separation occurred in the mesiopalatal canal. The S2 instrument separated in the apical third which was first
attempted to retrieve failing which it was bypassed using small k-files no. 6, 8, 10 and working length was
achieved. The canals were irrigated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and 17% EDTA (Canallarge, Amdent, Italy)
during cleaning and shaping. Calcium hydroxide was placed to disinfect the root canals as an intra-canal
medicament and the mesiopalatal canal was observed for 2 weeks. The tooth being asymptomatic after 2week
cleaning and shaping was completed and master cone IOPA was taken (fig.5) , obturation was done using gutta-
percha points ( Densply Mallefer , Switzerland ) and MTA based endodontic sealer (Endocem MTA sealer,
Marushi , Korea) by single cone hydrostatic condensation technique and access cavity was sealed with
composite.

III. Discussion
Usual maxillary second molar has one palatal root and two buccal roots. Four rooted maxillary second
molar is a rare condition some authors described few cases of maxillary second molars with two palatal roots or
canals. 8,12 Presence of extra canals or roots in the mesiobuccal portion of these teeth is more
common14,15.difficulties during endodntic treatment of maxillary second molar are due to its posterior position,
superposition of anatomical structures in radiograms such as zygomatic arch which leads to failure of diagnosis
unusual anatomy .also buccal roots of the same tooth could overlap the extra palatal root. Stone and stoner
reported variation of the palatal root of maxillary molars ,such as a single root with two separate orifice, two
seperate canals and two separate foramina , two separate roots each with one orifice ,one canal and one foramen,
a single root with one orifice , a bifurcated canal and two separated foramina. 16 Christie el al were the first to
report the presence of an additional palatal root in maxillary molars and have reported 16 cases of maxillary
molars with two palatal roots found during 40 yrs of clinical practice.
Peikoff et al (1996) demonstrated six variants of maxillary second molars in their study and their
frequency of occurance are as follow 3 separate roots and 3 separate canals (56.9%) 3 separate roots and 4
canals (22.7%) 3 roots and canals whose mesiobuccal and distobuccal canals combine to form a common buccal
with a separate palatal canal(9%) two separate roots with a single canal in each (6.9%) one main root and canal
(3.1%) 4 separate root and four separate roots and four separate canals including two palatal (1.4%) Carlsen and
alexandersen , has given the classification of four rooted maxillary molars teeth with accessory palatal roots

Radix Mesiolingualis- an accessory root that has direct affinity to the mesio palatal part of the maxillary molars
crowns which is very pronounced . it can be separate and non separate
Radix Distolingualis– an accessory root that has direct affinity to the distopalatal part of maxillary molar crown
which is very pronounced . it can be separate non separate or separate ,non separate.
Radix Mesiolingualis/Distolingualis- both mesio palatal and distopalatal roots have direct affinity to the very
pronounced mesio palatal and disto palatal part of the maxillary molar crown respectively .they can be separate
,non separate or separate non separate.13

A properly designed and prepared access cavity is helpful for diagnosis and negotiation of root
canalmorphology . however some of the common iatrogenic access opening errors are caused during the search
for extra or missing canals. These errors includes perforation and excessive tooth removal if the clinician
carefully examines the pulp chamber floor and wall anatomy with the help of loupes or an endodntic microscope
such iatrogenic errors can be minimized. In the present case access cavity was modified to a trapezoidal form to
accommodate the orifice of the additional palatal canal and to achieve straight line access to all the canals ,hence
any tooth requiring endodontic treatment should be evaluated thoroughly for variations before initating
treatment.
In this case S1 instrument was separated in mesio –palatal canal.the reported incidence of fractured Niti
roatary instruments varies from 0.4% to 4.4 %. Pettietle et al 2002 and Spill et al 2005 discussed the two main
causes for instrument fracture are flexural fatique and tortional fatique. The tortional fatique occurs when the tip

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 Endodontic Management Of Four Rooted Maxillary Second Molar Using CBCT…

or any other part of file is locked or bond with the canal while the shaft continues to rotate , as was in this case.
Torsional stress can occur in 55.7% of fractured instruments.
Sattpan et a in 2000 stated that for preventing instrument fracture due to torsional stress a proper
endodontic access cavity should me made, shaping should be done without applying apical pressure, use of
lubricating agent /irrigants and instruments of proper taper. The separated instrument was first attempted to
retrieve using nanual technique, which was difficult to retrieve due to posterior position of the tooth and
inaccessible location, the sepersted instrument was bypassed upto working length using K file. The prognosis in
case of instrument fracture depends on the location and duration of fractured instrument. As before progressing
to S1 initial cleaning and shaping was complited with manual K file and WL was achived by bypassing the
separated fragment. Decision to obdurate the tooth with a MTA sealer was made after observing the tooth for 2
weeks with calcium hydroxide were it remained asymptomatic. A eight month follow up radiograph showed
healing of the periapical region in the mesio palatal root apex.

Figures

Fig 1 A: Preoperative IOPA radiograph with 26 and 27, B: Preoperative picture with fractured amalgam
restoration, C: draning sinus in the buccal vestibule .

Fig 2: Access opening and root configurations of 27.

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 Endodontic Management Of Four Rooted Maxillary Second Molar Using CBCT…

Fig 3 A: palatal aspect of 27, B: buccal aspect of 27.

Fig 4 A: working length determination radiograph of 27, B: Master cone radiograph of 27

Fig 5 A: Obturation radiograph of 27, B: A eight month follow up radiograph.

IV. Conclusion
The present case report discusses the endodontic management of an unusual case of a maxillary second
molar with four roots and four canals and also highlights the role CBCT as an objective analytic tool to ascertain
root canal morphology.

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 Endodontic Management Of Four Rooted Maxillary Second Molar Using CBCT…

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