Relationship of incidence of radix entomolaris and C-shaped canal in mandibular molars using CBCT: A multi-centre study

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of incidence between radix entomolaris (RE) in permanent mandibular first molars (FM) with C-shaped canal (CSC) in permanent mandibular second molars (SM). A total of 1015 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of permanent mandibular molars from Malaysian patients were collected retrospectively and analysed by researchers from seven dental schools in Malaysia trained in CBCT technology. The presence and absence of RE and CSC were scored as ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The prevalence of FM with RE was 21.2% and SM with CSC was 37.9%. The co-occurrence of RE and CSC in the same quadrant was 6.5% (OR=1.497, p=0.014). Female, Chinese and samples from Eastern Peninsular Malaysia were associated with CSC in SM (p<0.05). The increased appearance of CSC in SM when RE is present in FM makes it imperative for clinicians to be vigilant during examination and diagnosis to prevent potential endodontic mishaps.