The location and incidence of accessory pulpal canals in periodontal pockets

One hundred permanent human teeth, extracted because of periodontal disease, were studied to determine the percentage of teeth in which accessory canals were located within a periodontal pocket. Pocket depth and other data were recorded before the extractions. After extraction, the pulpal contents were removed and pulp chambers and canals filled with a radiopaque material by an injection process. The teeth were radiographed from different angles to observe the accessory canals. Ten teeth also were studied histologically to compare the results with those obtained by the injection technique. Several conclusions were drawn from this study. Two percent of the 100 teeth studied had accessory canal located within a periodontal pocket. Seventeen percent of the teeth examined had one accessory canal, 6% had two accessory canals, and no teeth had more than two accessory canals. As groups, mandibular premolars and mandibular molars had the highest percentage of teeth exhibiting accessory canals, and maxillary molars and mandibular incisors had the lowest percentage of teeth with accessory canals. The histologic evaluation and the injection technique study showed a direct correlation as to the presence or absence of accessory canals. It was impossible to make any correlation between restorations, caries, attrition, or type of periodontal bone loss and the presence of accessory canals found in periodontal pockets.