http://dx.doi.org/10.5272/jimab.2014201.

504
Journal of IMAB Journal of IMAB - Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers) 2014, vol. 20, issue 1
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
http://www.journal-imab-bg.org
C-SHAPED CONFIGURATION OF THE ROOT
CANAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
Janet Kirilova, Snezhanka Topalova-Pirinska.
Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Sofia, Bulgaria

ABSTRACT Conclusions: Knowledge of the different anatomi-

Introduction: The patients with C-shaped configu-
ration of the root canal system are definitely a problem in
the everyday dental practice. The C-shaped configuration
of the root canal can be seen in the mandibular and maxil-
lary molars. The treatment of these teeth is very difficult.
Purpose: To trace the treatment of clinical cases with
C-shaped configuration of the root canal system.
Material and methods: There are some different
cases that are described with a C-shaped configuration of
the root canal system with one, two, three and four sepa-
rate root canals. Careful exploration of the floor of the pulp
chamber, inspection with magnification, use of ultrasonic
irrigation and a modified filling technique are of particular
use.
Results and Discussion: Clinical cases of a C-
shaped pulp chamber and root canal system shows that this
root canal aberration occurs in a wide variety and variabil-
ity with a single root canal up to two, three and four sepa-
rate root canals. The diameter of the root canal themselves
also varies from very wide to such with a small diameter.
cal variations will improve the endododntic practice of the
general dental practitioners.
Key words: Anatomical variation, C-shaped configu-
ration of the root canal system, endodontic treatment
The C-shaped root canal configuration was first
documented in endodontic literature by Cooke and Cox in
1979 and is so named for the cross-sectional morphology
of the root and root canal of the molar teeth [2]. In these
cases instead of the typical shape of the pulp chamber with
three root canals, there are the C-shaped orifice of the root
canal on the mandibular molars. C- shaped root canal sys-
tem is a single, ribbon-shaped orifice with an arc of 180
or more (Figure 1). Most often, the C-shape of the pulp
chamber is used to describe the mandibular second molars,
the maxillary first molars (0.92%) and the maxillary sec-
ond molars (4.9%) [2, 3, 4, 13, 15]. Single cases of man-
dibular first molars and mandibular first premolars are re-
ported [14, 15, 16].

Fig. 1. C- shaped configuration of the root canal system of mandibular second molar.

The orifice starts from the mesiolingual line angle of orifice.

the pulp chamber, curves buccally and ends distally (Figure
1). The convex portion of the C-shape is direced vestibullary.
Root canal structure, below the orifice, can be wide
range of anatomic variations with one, two, three or four
separate canals. The teeth can be divided into two basic
groups [3, 4]:
1. Those with a single ribbonlike morphology from
orifice to the apex;
2. Those with more than one separate canal below the
The first classification of the C-shaped root canals was
done by Melton and co-authors in 1991 [6]. Later based on
it, Fan [3] made an anatomic classification:
1. Category I (C1) - continuous C-shaped root canal
from the orifice to the apex of the root;
2. Category II (C2) -one main root canal and a smaller
one;
3. Category III (C3) two or three root canals;
4. Category IV (C4) - an oval or a round canal;

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 5. Category V (C5) - no canal lumen or there is one
close to the apex.
According to this classification, C4 includes teeth that
have only a single and very wide canal. In English literature
these are the so-called all in one (Figure 2).
Fig. 2. C-shaped configuration Category IV (C4)
Fig. 3. Mandibular right second molar with one root canal category IV (C4): a - pulp chamber; b post-treatment
X-ray
The lengths of the root canals are measured
electrometrically with Raypex 4 apex locator. Due to the ex-
cessive diameter of the root canal the treatment is performed
with hand canal instruments using step-back technique,
combined with irrigation with Smear Clear, 3% hydrogen
peroxide and distilled water. Periapical lesions are influ-
enced by physiotherapy with iodine-potassium iodide. Seal-
ing the particularly widespread endodontic space is accom-
plished by the technique of continuous wave of conden-
sation through System B and Obtura II.
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Fan suggests that 3 types of teeth with C-shaped con-
figuration of the pulp chamber are included in the radiologi-
cal classification [4]:
1. Type I. Conical or square root with visible separa-
tion of medial and distal part. Medial and distal canal merge
near the apical foramen in a single one;
2. Type II. Conical or square root with visible sepa-
ration of medial and distal part. Medial and distal canal have
separate apical foramen but run approximately in parallel and
are almost equal in length;
3. Type III. Conical or square root with visible sepa-
ration of medial and distal part. Medial and distal canal have
separate apical foramen, run approximately in parallel but
one of them is longer than the other.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
Clinical case No 1 of a mandibular second molar
with C-shaped configuration (one wide root canal)
A root and a wide root canal are seen on the diag-
nostic radiography of a mandibular right second molar with
exacerbated chronic periapical periodontitis (Figure 3a). Af-
ter opening the pulp chamber, the C-shaped configuration
of the pulp chamber and a single root canal are confirmed
(Figure 3b). It refers to category IV (C4) of Fans anatomic
classification.
Clinical case No 2a of a mandibular second mo-
lar with C-shaped configuration (two root canals)
The clinical finding is a mandibular right second mo-
lar with a C-shaped pulp chamber and two root canals - Cat-
egory II (C2) according to Fans anatomic classification.
Figure 4 shows the pulp chamber of the tooth before and
after obturation of the endodontic space.
The extension of the endodontic cavity to the ves-
tibular portion of the tooth is probably due to the search of
a mesiobuccal orifice of the root canal in the primary treat-
ment, as this is not applicable to this anatomical variation (
white arrow on figure 4).
505
 Fig. 4. C-shaped pulp chamber of mandibular second molar: a C-shape of the open pulp chamber; b - clearly
defined C of the pulp chamber with filled canals - C2 or Category II according to Fan.

Figure 5 shows the diagnostic radiograph of the tooth Figure 5c - after filling. The post obturation radiography
which refers to type III according to Fans radiological clas- presents the filled root canal space and the existing anasto-
sification. Figure 5 b is a radiographic image of the tooth mosing network between the main and the accessory canals.
with gutta-percha points placed in both root canals and in

Fig. 5. Mandibular right second molar with a C-shaped root canal system: a - X-ray prior to treatment; b X-ray
with gutta-points in the canals; c - X-ray after filling the canals

The sealing the endodontic space is accomplished by
the technique of continuous wave of condensation by
combining System B and Obtura II for distal root canal and
Thermafill obturator and sealer for medial root canal.
Clinical case No 2b of a mandibular second mo-
lar with C-shaped configuration (two root canals)
Figure 6 shows a madibular right second molar with
a C-shaped pulp chamber and two root canals - Category
II (C2) according to Fans anatomic classification. It is in-
teresting that endodontic treatment was made through the
crown (as part of a bridge construction). The pulp cham-
ber of the tooth before and after obturation of endodontic
space is shown (Fig. 6a and b), as well as preoperative and
post obturation radiographs (Figure 6b and d).

Fig. 6. Mandibular right second molar with a C-shaped root canal system: a-open and shaped pulp chamber; b
preoperative radiograph; c - pulp chamber after filling; d post obturation radiograph.

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 Sealing the endodontic space is accomplished by
Thermafill obturators and sealer.
Clinical case No 3 of mandibular second molar with
C-shaped configuration (three root canals)
Endodontic retreatment of mandibular left second
molar with a C-shaped pulp chamber and three root canals
is registered. Evidence for this case is presented in Figure
7. In accordance with the radiograph, the tooth is classified
as type I according to Fans radiological classification and
as category III according to his anatomic classification (C3).
Perforation in mesiolingual part of the pulp chamber oc-
curred in previous treatment (black arrow on figure 8b).
Probably it was not taken into consideration that the tooth
had C-shaped configuration and a mesiolingual orifice of
the root canal was searched for. It is interesting to note that
a C-shaped pulp chamber and root canals of the contralat-
eral mandibular second molar, as well as the C-shaped pulp
chamber and the root canal system of maxillar left second
molar are observed with the same patient.
This confirms the conclusion of some authors [8, 9]
for presence of similar anatomical facts in contralateral teeth
in up to 70% of the cases.

Fig. 7. Mandibular left second molar with C-shaped configuration and three root canals: a - preoperative radio-
graph; b - the pulp chamber during the treatment - the two canals with obturation (white arrows), a perforation at one of
the ends of the pulp chamber (black arrow) and unfilled third root canal (red arrow); c post obturation radiograph.

Sealing the endodontic space is accomplished by
Thermall obturators and sealer.
Clinical case No 4 of mandibular second molar with
C-shaped configuration (four root canals)
The demonstrated case of mandibular right second
molar with chronic periapical periodontitis. The clinical
crown is almost completely destroyed. The configuration
of the pulp chamber is C-shaped and has four root canals.
Preoperative radiograph shows a root canal type II accord-
ing to Fans radiological classification (Figure 8).

Fig. 8. Radiographs of mandibular right second molar: a preoperative;

b with gutta percha points

The typical C-shaped configuration of the pulp

chamber is seen in Figure 9a. In Figure 9b shows the pulp
chamber with filled root canals of the same tooth and in Fig-
ure 9 c post obturation radiograph.

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 Fig. 9. Mandibular right second molar with C-shaped configuration of the pulp chamber and four root canals: a -
C-shaped pulp chamber; b - pulp chamber with Termafill obturators in canals; c post obturation radiograph.
Sealing the endodontic space is performed by com-
bined technique of filling a continuous wave of conden-
sation using System B and Obtura II and Thermafill
obturators and sealer
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Clinical cases of a C-shaped pulp chamber and root
canal system show that this root canal aberration occurs in
a wide variety and variability with a single root canal up to
two, three and four separate root canals. The diameter of
the root canal themselves also varies from very wide to such
with a small diameter.
In literature have found single publications of cases
with a C-shaped canal [1, 7, 9, 11, 12]. According to dif-
ferent authors their frequency varies from 2.7% [5, 16] to
8% [9]. The teeth with C-shaped root canal configuration
are usually mandibular second molars, and more rarely the
mandibular first premolars, the maxillary first molars, as
well as the mandibular wisdom-teeth (third molars). The C-
shaped configuration of the pulp chamber and the root ca-
nal system affects more often Asians than Caucasians [11]
with frequency of distribution up to 30%. The probability
of finding C-shaped configuration in the contralateral tooth
is up to 70% [7, 9, 11].
Successful endodontic treatment of a tooth with a C-
shaped configuration is difficult and a real challenge con-
sidering decontamination and successful filling of the root
canal system. The canal instruments, which use, mainly ro-
tating and the processing of an elliptical canal is difficult
and inefficient. The creation of systems, with reciprocal
motion for machine preparation, is a significant step for-
ward. It is inappropriate to apply separately the standard
technique, step-back or crown-down technique for the
preparation of a C-shaped root canal. Secure shaping and
cleaning of such type of root canals require knowledge of
508 http://www.journal-imab-bg.org
various techniques for instrumentation and their combina-
tion.
Qualitative filling of teeth with a C-shaped root ca-
nal system only with the methods of the central point tech-
nique or cold lateral condensation is impossible. The diffi-
culties arise from the fact that with the C-shaped root ca-
nals it is the possible to have a thin net of anastomoses in
root canal system [3, 4, 10].
All this requires good knowledge of and combining
different techniques of root canal extension from manual to
machine ones.
It is important to choice the method of irrigation,
because the endodontic space is complicate with net of anas-
tomosis. Ultrasonic activation of the irrigation solution with
2.5 sodium hypochlorite may be advantageous in remov-
ing the infected tissues from the canal system, because the
volume endodont contains greater amount of infected chan-
nel contents and extrusion of debris or irrigant is possible
[7, 15, 16].
Regarding the filling of root canal system one
method is not enough to seal the endodontic space. It is nec-
essary to use also cold lateral condensation through com-
bined technique of filling the continuous wave of conden-
sation using System B and Obtura II and Thermall
obturators and sealer [6, 11, 15, 16].
It is recommended that cases with C-shaped configu-
ration of root canal system should be referred to a special-
ist for complete treatment.
CONCLUSION
Due to the unusual root canal system of teeth with a
C-shaped root canal system, for successful sealing of en-
dodontic space, its necessary to know and learn different
techniques of filling and appropriate equipment with suit-
able appliance.
/ J of IMAB. 2014, vol. 20, issue 1/
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Address for correspondence:
Dr Janet Kirilova, PhD
Department of conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine
1, St. George Sofiiski Str., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
E-mail: janetkirilova@gmail.com,
http://www.journal-imab-bg.org
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