Root Canal Morphology

Root Canal Morphology

• Canine root canal morphology is characterized by variation, with an average length of 26.5 mm in the maxillary and 25.6 mm in the mandibular.
• The morphology is Type I, with the canal being ovoid in shape.
• Beware of dilacerations, especially buccal apical dilaceration.

Access Cavity Preparation

• The root can curve in any direction in the apical third, but is usually to the buccal.
• The apical foramen is frequently not located at the anatomic apex.
• Access cavity preparation involves removing caries and opening up the tooth to gain direct access to the apex for biomechanical preparation and obturation.

First Premolar

• Average length of the first premolar is 20.6 mm in the maxillary and 21.6 mm in the mandibular.
• Morphology is characterized by Cars EJ, Skidmore AE.

Main Structures of the Chamber

• Roof: located at the CEJ or cervical 3rd of the crown, yellowish in color, and rough/irregular in texture.
• Walls: absent dentin map.
• Floor: gets bigger as the furcal area lowers towards the apical area.
• Orifice: one or multiple canals.

Root Canal Configuration

• Type 1: one canal extends from the pulp chamber to the apex.
• Type 2: two separate canals leave the pulp chamber and join short of the apex to form one canal.
• Type 3: one canal leaves the pulp chamber and divides into two in the roots that merge to exit in one canal.
• Type 4: two separate canals leave the pulp chamber and divide short of the apex into two separate distinct canals with separate apical foramina.
• Type 5: one canal leaves the pulp chamber and divides short of the apex into two separate distinct canals with separate apical foramina.
• Type 6: two canals leave the pulp chamber and merge in the body of the root and redivide short of the apex to exit as two distinct canals.
• Type 7: one canal leaves the pulp chamber and divides into two in the roots that merge to exit in one canal and then redivide short of the apex to exit as two distinct canals.

Specific Teeth

• Lateral Incisor: average length of 22 mm in the maxillary and 20.7 mm in the mandibular, with a morphology of Type 1, and a root apex that commonly has a distal dilaceration.
• Second Molar: average length of 20 mm in the maxillary and 19.8 mm in the mandibular, with a morphology of usually 3 rooted with 3 canals but can exhibit a 4th canal.