Root malformation in mandibular premolars: an endodontic difficulty-report of two cases

Much of the literature is concerned with variation in root canal morphology rather than variation in root morphology. The present communication reports two rare cases of patients with aberrant root morphology in all their mandibular premolars examined. The role of intra-oral preoperative radiographs of diagnostic value is emphasized, without which unexpected complications during endodontic treatment or extraction may occur. Failure of endodontic treatment as a result of the inability to negotiate and instrument one of the canals in the aberrant root is an important difficulty that may be encountered with such variant teeth.