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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
Anomalous mandibular premolars: a mandibular first premolar with three roots and a mandibular second premolar with a
B M Cleghorn1, W H Christie, C C S Dong
1Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Dental Clinical Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. blaine.cleghorn@dal.ca
Aim:
To describe unusual variations in the root morphology and root canal systems of mandibular first and second premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons.
Summary:
Normally mandibular first and second premolar teeth have single roots with single canals. A 15-year-old patient presented for orthodontic treatment and two mandibular premolar teeth were examined post-extraction. The mandibular first premolar exhibited three distinct, separate roots and the mandibular second premolar exhibited a C-shaped root canal system. The coronal morphology of each of the mandibular premolars revealed dimensions and anatomy within normal limits. The incidence of a three-rooted mandibular first premolar is approximately 0.2%.
Key Learning Points:
* Thorough clinical and radiographic interpretation is important in recognizing anomalous root and root canal systems. * The most common forms of root and canal systems and its aberrations must be understood to realize variations from normal do occur. * Successful root canal treatment requires an accurate diagnosis of the root canal system using all available aids. * Value of microcomputed tomography in the study of anatomy ex vivo and cone-beam tomography in clinical endodontics of complex premolar cases is increasing.
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