Middle canals of mandibular first molar: clinical case reports with cone-beam computed tomographic evaluation

Successful endodontic treatment depends upon the proper diagnosis, thorough cleaning, shaping and three dimensional obturation of the root canal system. Thorough knowledge of variations in root canal anatomy is vital for performing adequate root canal treatment. An accurate diagnosis of an extra root/canal facilitates the endodontic procedure and avoids procedural errors. Mandibular first molar is the first permanent posterior tooth to erupt in the oral cavity. This tooth often suffers from caries and requires endodontic treatment later on. Since the teeth exhibit considerable anatomical variations regarding the number of roots and root canals, this paper emphasizes on the utilization of magnification and spiral computed tomography for the assessment of canal configuration, along with the management of extra canals in permanent mandibular first molar