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Prevalence of C-shaped canal system in mandibular first and second molars in a Saudi population assessed via cone beam computed tomography: a retrospective study

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Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of the C-shaped root canal configuration, location of the longitudinal groove, sex differences, and unilateral/bilateral presence in mandibular first and second molars in a Saudi population using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Materials and methods

CBCT images for the mandibular first and second molars of 487 patients (a total of 529 first molars and 681 s molars) were evaluated. The teeth were assessed for the presence of C-shaped root canals according to Fan criteria. Subdivisions were also made according to sex, direction of the longitudinal groove, and unilateral/bilateral presence.

Results

Only one C-shaped mandibular first molar was observed (0.19%), whereas 62 second molars (9.1%) exhibited C-shaped anatomy. Unilateral presence of the C-shaped root canal system was more common (53.85%). Female patients had a higher prevalence than males. Longitudinal grooves were most commonly found on the root lingual surface (58.1%).

Conclusions

The prevalence of the C-shaped canal configuration in a Saudi Arabian population was 0.19% in the mandibular first molar and 9.1% in the mandibular second molar. Longitudinal groove prevalence was highest on the lingual surface. Women had a significantly higher prevalence of the C-shaped canal configuration than men. Patients with unilateral presence of the C-shaped canal configuration were more common than those with bilateral presence.

Clinical relevance

Tooth type, patient sex, and ethnicity can help clinicians predict the prevalence of the C-shaped canal system in mandibular molars.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the College of Dentistry Research Center (CDRC) and Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Science Department, College of Dentistry, King Saud University.

Funding

The study was self-funded.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endodontic Division, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, P.O. Box 60169, Riyadh, 11545, Saudi Arabia

    Hussam Alfawaz & Abdullah Alqedairi

  2. Private Dental Practice, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulrahman K. Alkhayyal, Abdulaziz A. Almobarak & Mohannad F. Alhusain

  3. Department of Endodontics, Faculdade de Medicina Dentária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Jorge N. R. Martins

Authors
  1. Hussam Alfawaz
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  2. Abdullah Alqedairi
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  3. Abdulrahman K. Alkhayyal
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  4. Abdulaziz A. Almobarak
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  5. Mohannad F. Alhusain
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  6. Jorge N. R. Martins
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hussam Alfawaz.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the local institutional review board (No. E-17-2786).

Informed consent

Consent was not required for this type of study.

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Alfawaz, H., Alqedairi, A., Alkhayyal, A.K. et al. Prevalence of C-shaped canal system in mandibular first and second molars in a Saudi population assessed via cone beam computed tomography: a retrospective study. Clin Oral Invest 23, 107–112 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-018-2415-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-018-2415-0

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