Cone-beam computed tomography study of C-shaped root canal of mandibular premolars

To investigate the incidence and morphology of C-shaped root canals in mandibular premolars by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, which provides a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The CBCT scanning data of 964 mandibular first premolars and 907 mandibular second premolars in 508 cases were collected, and the root canal morphology, incidence of C-shaped root canals, bilateral symmetry and location of radicular grooves were analyzed.

The incidence of C-shaped root canals in mandibular first premolars was 4.1% and that in mandibular second premolars was 0.6%. The incidence of C-shaped root canals of mandibular first premolars was significantly higher than that of mandibular second premolars (χ² = 25.775, P < 0.001). The symmetrical ratio of C-shaped root canals in the mandibular first premolars was 29%. There were no symmetrical C-shaped root canals in the mandibular second premolars. There were significant differences in the distribution of the C-shaped root canal configuration in the root canal (P < 0.001). The C-shaped configuration mainly existed in the middle axial and apical level of the mandibular premolars. The C2 type was more common. No C-shape was found in the coronal level of the mandibular premolars. Vertucci Ⅰ single tube type was the most common type of root canal for the mandibular premolars included in this study; the incidences were 81.7% and 98.3% for the mandibular first and second premolars, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ² = 140.544, P < 0.001). The other root canal types of mandibular first premolars were more than those of mandibular second premolars. The incidences of Vertucci Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ and C-shaped root canals in mandibular first premolars were significantly higher than those in mandibular second premolars. C-shaped root canal mandibular premolars had radicular grooves, and most of them were located at the mesiolingual side.

The morphology of the C-shaped root canal in mandibular premolars was complicated. CBCT can provide direct and accurate imaging evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.