2007 Volume 50 Issue 4 Pages 530-538
The so-called gutter shaped roots were described for the first time in the literature of Japan by Nakayama (1941). The reported incidences of such teeth were 28.9% in the mandibular second molars and 10% in the mandibular third molars. The root configurations of these teeth are represented by fusion of the mesial and distal roots at the buccal aspect, and a deep furcation groove on the lingual root surface. In some of these teeth, the root canal system has complex morphology. The C-shaped canals are the most common, and may be difficult to debride and fill properly. According to Lowman et al. (1973), the incidence of accessory canals in the coronal and the middle third of the root surface was 55 % in maxillary molars and 63 % in mandibular molars. The existence of inflamed lateral or accessory canals often complicates the progress and treatment of pulpperiodontal disease. In the literature, the presence of accessory canals in the furcation areas of gutter shaped teeth has not been studied well. This study investigated the presence and morphology of furcation accessory canals in the interconnection between the mesial and distal roots using microfocus X-ray CT(SMX-100CT, Shimadzu). A total of ten extracted adult human teeth (9 mandibular second molars and 1 mandibular third molar) with gutter shaped roots were prepared. The teeth had been stored in 10% formalin solution. The age, sex of the patients and reasons for extraction were not recorded. Micro-CT findings revealed that accessory foramina extending from the pulpal floor to the interradicular region of the teeth were not located in the furcation of the roots. The present results suggested that a noticeable intermediate furcation ridge between each root of the interradicular area might not be seen at all and the so-called lateral canals might most often extend from the middle and apical region of the roots to a major root canal on 3D reconstruction.
