The Hunt for the Second Mesio-Buccal Canal of Maxillary First Molars - An In-Vitro Study

The success of a root canal treatment depends on meticulous cleaning and shaping of the canals and their obturation to obtain a perfect seal. For this to occur, it is crucial that all the canals be identified initially. A mistake in any of the above steps leads to the failure of the treatment. The anatomy of a root canal system has become uncertain; morphological variations have become common. An in-vitro study was conducted to determine the percentage of second mesio-buccal canals (MB2) in the maxillary first molar that could be routinely located during root canal treatment.

250 extracted permanent human maxillary first moiars ultrasonically cleaned and crowns of the teeth were cut off horizontally at level of the Cementa-Enamel Junction (CEJ). irrigated with water and examined for MB2canai.

44% of the teeth were found to have MB2canals