title: Dilemmas pertaining to three canals in the mesiobuccal root of a maxillary second molar: a case report.
abstract: The mesiobuccal root of the maxillary molars is well known to pose a hindrance during endodontic therapy. Presented here is a case of a maxillary left second molar where three canals were located in its mesiobuccal root with the use of visual and diagnostic aids. Difficulties encountered during the process of unveiling the tooth's internal anatomy were discussed. The dilemmas encountered pertained to the root canal configuration, the nomenclature of the extra canals, and the justification for the presence of a third canal. The root canal configuration of 3-2-1 was confirmed for the mesiobuccal root using information gained from clinical, radiographic, and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scan findings. This case demonstrates the need for efforts to locate extra canals in the mesiobuccal root of the maxillary molars as their internal anatomy remains a mystery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Manubhai Patel Dental College, Hospital and Oral Research Institute, Vadodara, India.
authors.forename: Ankit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Shashi Rashmi
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Muliya Vidya
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Saraswathi
authors.forename: Padmaja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ather
keywords: Canal configuration; Maxillary second molar; Mesiobuccal root; Multidetector computed tomography; Three canals