Partial bifurcation and webbed root of mandibular second premolar--an uncommon variation

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Dentistry

Background:

• Dental anomalies can significantly impact oral health, necessitating thorough diagnosis and management.
• Hypoplastic and malformed teeth present unique challenges in pediatric dental care.
• Understanding root development variations is crucial for effective treatment planning.

Observation:

• An 11-year-old girl presented with severe pain in the left mandibular region.
• Clinical examination revealed a hypoplastic and severely decayed mandibular second premolar.
• Radiographic imaging showed an unusual apical root bifurcation, a rare dental anomaly.

Findings:

• Extraction of the affected tooth was performed.
• Histopathological examination of the extracted tooth revealed a webbed appearance of the bifurcated root.
• This finding contrasted with the radiographic appearance of the root bifurcation.

Implications:

• The webbed root morphology suggests potential developmental disturbances, possibly related to hypomineralization.
• Trauma from infection of predecessor teeth may have impacted root development.
• This case highlights the importance of integrating radiographic and morphodifferentiation findings for accurate diagnosis of dental anomalies.