MANDIBULAR SECOND

MOLAR
Pulp Chambers and Canals
 Mandibular Second Molar

 Anatomically, the mandibular second molar has

many similarities with the mandibular first molar.
 The roots of the second molar may be straighter with
less divergence from the furcation than in the first
molar.
 The roots may be shorter, but there is no assurance
that any of these differences will be manifested in
any one tooth.
 Buccolingual Section

 The buccolingual section of the mandibular second

molar demonstrates a pulp chamber and pulp canals
that tend to be more variable and complex than
those found in the mandibular first molar.
 The pulp horns of the mandibular second molar are
usually rather prominent, but some pulp horns may
be small to nonexistent.
 The pulp chamber of the mesial root is well
demarcated because of the presence of two canals.
 Buccolingual Section

 The pulp chamber may be somewhat square or

rectangular.
 Two root canals are usually present in the mesial
root, but only one may be present.
 The mesial canals may be large, medium or small.
 The curvature of these canals may be severe,
moderate, virtually absent or a combination of the
aforementioned variations.
 Buccolingual Section

 Most of the canals appear to exit from the mesial

root separately, but some join just before reaching
the apex so that a common canal exits from the apex.
 The apical foramen usually appears to be located at
the tip of the root, but some appear to exit slightly to
the buccal or lingual aspect of the root.
 Buccolingual Section

 The pulp chamber of the distal root of the

mandibular second molar is not as easily identified
because of the extremely large pulp canal that is
usually present.
 One canal is usually present in the distal root, but
two totally or partially separate canals are possible.
 Buccolingual Section

 Pulp horns may be present, but they are not nearly as

prominent as in the mesial root unless two canals are
present.
 The pulp canal is usually very large in the
mesiobuccal sections. The pulp canal may taper
gently from the pulp chamber until the apical
constriction or an abrupt constriction of the canal
may occur in the last 2 to 3 mm of the canal.
 The apical foramen often appears to be located at the
tip of the root.
 Mesiodistal Section

 The mesiodistal sections of the mandibular second

molar are very similar to those of the mandibular
first molar.
 However, the roots of the mandibular first molar
tend to be straighter and closer together.
 The pulp horns are usually prominent, but some are
small or absent.
 Mesiodistal Section

 The pulp chamber is rectangular. The size of the

chamber varies from very large to very small.
 The curvature of the mesial canal may be severe,
moderate or essentially straight.
 The canals gently taper from the pulp chamber to the
apical constriction.
 Mesiodistal Section

 The apical foramen usually appears to be located at

the tip of the root, but the foramen may appear to be
located mesially or distally to the apex of the root.
 The distal canal may be slightly curved or straight.
The distal root may be shorter than, equal to or
longer than the mesial root.
 The distal canal is usually larger than the mesial
canals but may be equal to the mesial canals. The
distal canal tapers gently to the apex.
 Cervical Cross Section

 The cervical cross section of the mandibular second

molar is similar to that of the mandibular first molar.
 The outline form of the mandibular second molar is
more triangular because of the smaller dimensions
that are usually seen in the distal aspect of the tooth.
 Cervical Cross Section

 The pulp chamber also tends to be triangular.

 The floor of the pulp chamber may have two
openings, one mesially and one distally, which are
centered within the dentin.
 If only one canal is present in the distal root, it will
be centered within the dentin.
 Midroot Cross Section

 Midroot cross sections of the mandibular molars

demonstrate that the mesial root is very broad
buccolingually and narrow mesiodistally.
 Midroot Cross Section

 The outline form is kidney-shaped or slightly in the

form of a figure eight.
 Midroot Cross Section

 The canals may be totally separate or confluent,

which makes it difficult to determine the presence of
two mesial canals.
 The distal root may be rounder than the mesial root,
because the outline form of this root is usually oval,
but broad distal roots are also seen.
 Midroot Cross Section

 One canal is usually present in the distal root, but

two canals are often present.