title: C-shaped root canal configuration in maxillary first molars.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This clinical report presents the endodontic treatment of two maxillary first molars and the anatomical study of two additional maxillary first molars with a C-shaped distally located root canal system. This configuration is not a common finding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the endodontic literature, the C-shaped root canal is most frequently seen in the mandibular second molar. The occurrence of C-shapes in maxillary first molars, however, has only been described in a limited number of case reports. We observed this configuration in two out of 2175 root-filled maxillary first molars treated at the Department of Endodontology, Ghent University Hospital, during the last 10 years. In order to study and visualize this particular aberration, cross-sections in two additional two-rooted maxillary first molars were made. From these cross sections it can be concluded that the C-shaped canal configuration is the result of a fusion of the distobuccal and the palatal roots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontology, Dental School, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: R J G
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: De Moor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology*