The Determination of Incidence and Types of C-Shaped Canals in All Teeth in The Turkish Population Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and structure of C-shaped canals in all teeth in the Turkish subpopulation using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images by taking age and gender factors into account. Materials and Methods: CBCT images from 550 patients referred to the Department of Oral, Maxillofacial, and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, İnonü University, were used. Age and sex restrictions were excluded. The teeth were scanned using sagittal, coronal, and axial images and evaluated at five different points. Pearson Chi-Square statistical test was used to analyze the data. Results: Among the 458 patients evaluated, there was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of C-shaped canal structures according to age and sex (p=0.96, n=70). Among the 11260 teeth examined, C-shaped canal structures were found in mandibular 2nd molars (56.1%), maxillary 2nd molars (17.8%), maxillary and mandibular 3rd molars (7.5%), mandibular 2nd premolars (3.7%), mandibular 1st premolars (2.8%), mandibular lateral incisors (2.8%) and mandibular 1st molars (1.9%) (n=107). Conclusion: Teeth with C-shaped canal structures often have a single canal at the level of the canal opening, multiple canals in the central region of the root, a single canal in the apical region, and additional canal types may also be present. It should be recognized that teeth with C-shaped canal structures may have deep grooves on the root surfaces.