Endodontic Retreatment of an Upper First Molar with Bifurcated Palatal Canal Using Preoperative Cone-beam Computed Tomography: A Case Report

Nguyen Thi Chau; Vo Truong Nhu Ngoc; Vu Viet Duc; Truong Thi Hieu Hanh; Thien Chu Dinh

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.387

Endodontic Retreatment of an Upper First Molar with Bifurcated Palatal Canal Using Preoperative Cone-beam Computed Tomography: A Case Report

Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Dec 20;7(24):4337-4341. doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2019.387. eCollection 2019 Dec 30.

Authors

Nguyen Thi Chau¹, Vo Truong Nhu Ngoc¹, Vu Viet Duc¹, Truong Thi Hieu Hanh¹, Thien Chu Dinh²

Affiliations

¹ School of Odonto Stomatology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
² Institute for Research and Development, Duy Tan University, 03 Quang Trung, Danang, Vietnam.

Abstract

Background: Anatomic variations in palatal canal morphology in maxillary first molars (MFMs) are relatively rare occurrences. Therefore, omission is common unless clinicians recognize their presence.

Case report: The aim of this report is to point out new signs that can be viewed as indicators of the existence of additional canals in the palatal root (PR) in this upper first molar endodontic retreatment case. Moreover, the role of preoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in both discovering and determining the location of those additional canals will also be discussed.

Conclusion: Besides formerly discussed signs that indicate the existence of this canal, clinicians should also pay attention to other signals on periapical radiograph, including the aberrant divergence of a palatal canal at apical third and an unusual lesion occurring laterally in the periapical area of palatal root.

Keywords: Bifurcated palatal canal; Cone-beam computed tomography; Endodontic retreatment; S-shaped canal; Second mesiobuccal canal; Upper first molar.