Identification of a C-shaped canal system in mandibular second molars - Part II: The effect of bone image superimposition and intraradicular contrast medium on radiograph interpretation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of image superimposition from surrounding alveolar bone and intraradicular contrast medium on radiographic interpretation of a C-shaped canal system in mandibular second molars. Thirty mandibular second molars with fused roots were collected and stored in 10% formalin solution. After being scanned by micro-computed tomography and reconstructed, the buccal-lingual radiographs of each tooth were taken with or without intraradicular contrast medium and mandibular bony plates. The number of mesial and distal canals in the coronal-to-middle canal portion and the canal number in the apical 4-mm area were recorded. The buccal-lingual and three-dimensional view of reconstructed canal images were used to evaluate the accuracy of radiograph reading. The results were subjected to the Friedman and chi-square test. The results showed that without intraradicular contrast medium, the bone superimposition could decrease the accuracy of canal recognition significantly (p < 0.001), especially in the apical area. When contrast medium was in canals, the canal reading seemed not to be affected by the bone superimposition (p > 0.05). Based on these findings, the intraradicular contrast medium could increase the accuracy of canal recognition of a C-shaped canal system in mandibular second molars despite the bone image superimposition, especially in the detection of continuous C-shaped canals and the canals in the apical area.