Predicting the configuration of a C-shaped canal system from panoramic radiographs
Received 8 September 2008; received in revised form 8 August 2009; accepted 14 August 2009.
Objective
To characterize the presentation of C-shaped canals in mandibular molars on dental panoramic radiographs.
Study design
The sample consisted of 290 patients who had undergone both panoramic dental radiography and computed tomography (CT). Initially the presence of mandibular molars with C-shaped canals was identified on this sample by the use CT. This was used as a ground radiographic truth. Then 3 investigators independently classified the mandibular molars according to their 6 root morphologies on panoramic dental radiographs. The sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of characteristic findings on panoramic radiographs were calculated.
Results
A C-shaped canal was identified in 90 (29%) of 311 mandibular molars. The most common morphology of C-shaped canal molars was 2 separate conical roots (52%); trabecular patterns were relatively common between the roots. In contrast, the most common morphology of molars without C-shaped canals was 2 separate roots that were either divergent or parallel (85%).
Conclusion
Panoramic radiography is a good surveying modality to detect C-shaped canals and can be used to determine whether further examination is required before endodontic treatment.
aStudent, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
bAssociate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, BK21, and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
cAssistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
dProfessor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
Reprint requests: Sam-Sun Lee, DDS, MSD, PhD, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, 28 Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-749, Korea
ABSTRACT