title: Root and canal morphology of mandibular third molars in an Iranian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A through knowledge of the root canal morphology is required for successful endodontic ther-apy. The aim of this study was to investigate the root and canal morphology of mandibular third molars in Kerman, a prov-ince in southeast of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred-fifty extracted mandibular third molars were collected randomly from different dental clinics in Kerman. The root canal anatomy and morphology of each tooth was carefully studied using a clearing tech-nique. Root number and morphology, number of canals per root, root canal configuration according to Vertucci classifica-tion, and incidence of dilacerated roots and C-shaped canals in mandibular third molars were evaluated under stereomicro-scope with ×2 to ×3 magnifications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the total of 150 mandibular third molars studied, 21% had one root. The majority of teeth (73%) had two roots. 5.5% of the teeth had three roots. The incidence of C-shaped canal was 3.5% in this study and 8% of the teeth had at least one dilacerated root.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although root canal anatomy and morphology of mandibular third molars is very variable having two roots seems to be the normal anatomy for these teeth.
authors.affiliation: Oral & Dental Diseases Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran  ; Associate Professor, Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuzekanani
authors.forename: Jahangir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haghani
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nosrati