Presented here is a case where 8 canals were located in a mandibular first molar. A patient with continuing pain in mandibular left first molar even after completion of biomechanical preparation was referred by a dentist. Following basic laws of the pulp chamber floor anatomy, 8 canals were located in three steps with 4 canals in each root. In both of the roots, 4 separate canals commenced which joined into two canals and exited as two separate foramina. At 6 mon follow-up visit, the tooth was found to be asymptomatic and revealed normal radiographic periapical area. The case stresses on the fact that understanding the laws of pulp chamber anatomy and complying with them while attempting to locate additional canals can prevent missing canals.

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The mesiobuccal root of the maxillary molars is well known to pose a hindrance during endodontic therapy. Presented here is a case of a maxillary left second molar where three canals were located in its mesiobuccal root with the use of visual and diagnostic aids. Difficulties encountered during the process of unveiling the tooth's internal anatomy were discussed. The dilemmas encountered pertained to the root canal configuration, the nomenclature of the extra canals, and the justification for the presence of a third canal. The root canal configuration of 3-2-1 was confirmed for the mesiobuccal root using information gained from clinical, radiographic, and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scan findings. This case demonstrates the need for efforts to locate extra canals in the mesiobuccal root of the maxillary molars as their internal anatomy remains a mystery.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• A case report on endodontic management of the rarest Vertucci's Type VIII configuration in maxillary second molar with three mesiobuccal canals
  ShrustiAjay Govil, Geeta Asthana, Shikha Kanodia, Abhishek Parmar
  Journal of Conservative Dentistry.2021; 24(4): 404.     CrossRef
• The MB3 canal in maxillary molars: a micro-CT study
  Ronald Ordinola-Zapata, Jorge N. R. Martins, Hugo Plascencia, Marco A. Versiani, Clovis M. Bramante
  Clinical Oral Investigations.2020; 24(11): 4109.     CrossRef
• Three Root Canals in the Mesiobuccal Root of Maxillary Molars: Case Reports and Literature Review
  Ibrahim Ali Ahmad, Anas Al-Jadaa
  Journal of Endodontics.2014; 40(12): 2087.     CrossRef