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OR08 - Cone-beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) as an Aid in the Clinical Detection of Second Mesio-buccal Canals in Maxillary First and Second Molars: A Retrospective Study

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM CT

Location: E353B (Level 3)

Presenter(s)

Cher Lu, D.D.S.

Resident
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Disclosure information not submitted.

Co-Author(s)

Ya-Hsin Yu, D.D.S., D.M.D., M.S.

Clinic director & Instructor
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Disclosure information not submitted.
Su-Min Lee, D.D.S., D.M.D., M.S.D.

Assistant professor
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Disclosure information not submitted.
Bekir Karabucak, D.M.D., M.S.

Chair and Professor of Endodontics, Director Postdoctoral Endodontics Program
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Disclosure information not submitted.

The second mesio-buccal canal (MB2) is expected to be present in most maxillary molars, but is often clinically inaccessible. This study aims to evaluate if MB2s in first and second maxillary molars observed on pre-operative or intra-operative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were clinically located and treated. CBCT images were exposed and root canal treatments were performed by post-graduate endodontic residents at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. CBCT images from 2019–2022 were included. Charts of patients who had root canal treatment or retreatment of their maxillary first or second molar and had a preoperative or intraoperative maxillary CBCT taken were evaluated. CBCT images were evaluated to verify the presence of MB2. Patient charts and periapical images were reviewed to confirm clinical treatment (instrumentation and obturation) of MB2 or lack thereof. 146 maxillary molars were included. In 87 cases (59.6%), MB2s were identified on CBCT and 56 (64.3%) were clinically treated. Among 98 first maxillary molars, 63 (64.3%) had MB2s identified on CBCT and 44 (69.8%) were clinically treated. Among 48 second maxillary molars, 24 (50%) had MB2s identified on CBCT and 12 (50%) were clinically treated. The present study demonstrated that CBCT imaging is a great aid for the identification of MB2 canals in maxillary first and second molars, but the clinical identification and treatment of MB2 seems to remain challenging even with the aid of CBCT technology.