How Patients Feel
POSITIVEPatient Reviews
2I would like to respond to Mr. O'Reilly's review and to educate him on the morphology of the root canal system. The tooth in question is a maxillary second molar. The literature is quite consistant that this tooth usually has only three canals. The three canals were debrided and obturated without complications. When Mr. O'Reilly returned in pain, I assumed there were accessory canals and began searching. Accessory canals are usually found in the mesiobuccal root and are often very fine and difficult to negotiate. Anastomosis between these two canals may take the form of narrow canals or wide fins, both almost impossible to instrument. The maxillary first molar has the highest incidence of accessory canals; consequently, more errors in instrumentation occur in this tooth than almost any other. The maxillary second molar can also have accessory canals but not as often. In Mr. O'Reilly's case, two accessory canals were detected, debrided, and obturated. While one accessory canal is rare, a second accessory canal is even more so. This was certainly an interesting case and quite challenging. I did have to drill through Mr. O'Reilly's crown to treat the accessory canals. I would have replaced his crown but I had already been dismissed, which according to Mr. O'Reilly, he has had to do with previous dentists. I wish him the best in the future and would like to remind him that medicine and dentistry are not exact sciences and complications arise.