Maxillary Molars with Two Palatal Roots: A Retrospective Clinical Study
Authors: Christie WH, Peikoff MD and Fogel HM
Year: 1991
Journal: JOE

Purpose: To study the possibility of having two palatal roots in maxillary molars clinically and radiographically compared to previous reports.

Materials and methods:

  • A review was done to compare the previous studies with the clinical study done by the authors. [ Table 1 ]
  • Starting from 1973, the authors performed 15 RCT on patients having maxillary molars which appeared to have double palatal roots ( one patient treated a contralateral tooth and had the same anatomy )
  • 6 extracted teeth were also evaluated ( not identified )
  • From the morphology of these roots, a classification is proposed

Most highlighted results:

  • Of the 16 teeth in the sample, 14 were second molars and only 2 were first molars.
  • An anomaly to note on the treatment radiographs studied was the presence of enamel pearls in the furcation area.
  • The classification of maxillary teeth with two palatal canals:
  • Type I: maxillary molars have two widely divergent palatal roots that are often long and tortuous
  • Type II: maxillary molar has four separate roots also but the roots are often shorter, run parallel, have buccal and lingual root morphology, and have blunt root apices
  • Type III: maxillary molar is also constricted in root morphology with the mesiobuccal, mesiopalatal, and distopalatal canal encaged in a web of root dentin. [ Fig 11 and 12 ]

Clinical Significance:

Although the occurrence of 2 palatal roots is not frequent, a clinician should know the variability that might be encountered during RCT.