Radiographic Interpretation in Oral Medicine and Hospital Dental Practice

Annual review of selected scientific literature: A report of the Committee on Scientific Investigation of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry

The Scientific Investigation Committee of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry offers this review of the 2021 dental literature in restorative dentistry to inform busy dentists regarding noteworthy scientific and clinical progress over the past year. Each member of the committee brings discipline-specific expertise to coverage of this broad topical area. Specific subject areas addressed, in order of the appearance in this report, include COVID-19 and the dental profession (new); prosthodontics; periodontics, alveolar bone, and peri-implant tissues; implant dentistry; dental materials and therapeutics; occlusion and temporomandibular disorders; sleep-related breathing disorders; oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery; and dental caries and cariology. The authors focused their efforts on reporting information likely to influence daily dental treatment decisions with an emphasis on future trends in dentistry. With the tremendous volume of dentistry and related literature being published daily, this review cannot possibly be comprehensive. Rather, its purpose is to update interested readers and provide important resource material for those interested in pursuing greater details on their own. It remains our intent to assist colleagues in negotiating the extensive volume of important information being published annually. It is our hope that readers find this work useful in successfully managing the patients and dental problems they encounter.

FEATURES OF THE VARIATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF THE MANDIBULAR SECOND MOLAR USING CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING

OBJECTIVE

The aim: To characterize the variations in the anatomical structure of the second lower molar.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: In order to determine the topography of the roots and root canals of the mandibular second molar, modern imaging methods were used: orthopan¬tomography and cone-beam computed tomography.

RESULTS

Case report: During the analysis of the orthopantomogram of the patient, the three-root morphology of the root system of 37 teeth was revealed. That is, three roots were clearly visualized. After detecting an atypical shape of the root system of the mandibular second molar in the panoramic image, the patient was offered to perform cone-beam computed tomography (CPCT) for diagnostic purposes. Analysis by cone-beam computed tomography showed the presence of four mature roots of normal length, which were arranged in the shape of a diamond.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: The four-root configuration is considered a rare form for mandibular molars, but it should be considered in endodontic interventions and, if possible, in the planning of such interventions, use cone-beam computed tomography.