Larnani Sri; Yeon-Jee Yoo; Sun-Kyung Yu & Young-Seok Park

Failure to locate a complete canal system affects the prognosis of root canal treatment. A missed root canal is one of the most common reasons for failed root canal treatment. The prevalence of the second mesiobuccal canal in the maxillary second molar is relatively high and has a variety of configurations. Therefore, knowledge of its morphology is required in clinical endodontics. This review presented the canal in terms of its prevalence, classification, anatomical features, and the method for locating the second mesiobuccal canal in the maxillary second molar. Root canal treatment requires knowledge of tooth morphology, appropriate access preparation, and a thorough examination of the tooth's interior. Thus, clinicians should carefully employ various methods for assessing the anatomy of the entire root canal system to prevent failure in locating the second mesiobuccal canal. This canal can be located by modifying the access cavity design and utilizing specific instruments to improve the second mesiobuccal canal system visualization.

KEY WORDS: Maxillary second molar; Second mesiobuccal canal; Root canal configuration; Root canal therapy; Tooth root.

SRI, L.; YOO, Y. J.; YU, S. K. & PARK, Y. S. Morphology of the second mesiobuccal canal in the maxillary second molar. Int. J. Morphol., 42(2):483-490, 2024.