ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Journal of Case Reports in Dental Medicine (J Case Rep Dent Med) May 2020, Volume 2, Number 2: 36-39
36 http://jcrdm.org © 2019 JCRDM. Published by Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University. All rights reserved.
Objective: Very long teeth present challenging in endodontic treat-
ment. It necessitates modification of the instruments and techniques
to negotiate the canal and to obturate to the full working length.
This case aims to perform root canal treatment (RCT) of a lengthy
maxillary canine of 37 mm length.
Methods: A 75-year old man came for a filling of decayed upper front teeth.
Radiographically, the right canine showed an abnormality in length. Clinically,
it was carious, not tender to percussion, and diagnosed as asymptomatic irrever-
sible pulpitis with normal apical tissues.
Results: This case illustrated the use of hand H-files (ISO) with the
removal of the plastic cable and preparation of the canal by push - pull
movement and obturation conventionally through vertical and lateral
condensation techniques. CBCT was used to assess treatment outcome.
Conclusion: RCT of a very long tooth can be performed by instrument
cable removal technique (ICRT) to achieve good quality and better
outcomes.
Keywords: CBCT, Hand H-file, Lengthy Root Canals, Maxillary cuspid
Cite this Article: Hussain S E, Awooda EM. 2020. Root canal treatment for a lengthy maxillary canine of 37 mm. Case Report. Journal of Case
Reports in Dental Medicine. 2(2): 36-39. DOI: 10.20956/jcrdm.v2i2.108
Root canal treatment for a lengthy maxillary canine of 37 mm.
Case Report
Shahad E. Hussain
1
, Elhadi M. Awooda
1*
Abstract
Introduction
The outcomes of the root canal treatment depend
on the technical quality and rigorous allied of the
principles and procedure to achieve the objectives
of cleaning, shaping, and obturation. Good
knowledge of the root canal morphology and its
variations is crucial. The clinician should have a
thorough understanding of the detailed anatomy
of the root canal to be able to utilize the most
appropriate treatment techniques and protocols,
thereby increasing the percentage of success
rate.
1
From the literature; a number of studies and
case reports have investigated the length of human
maxillary canine. In 1902, G.V Black stated that
the longest maxillary cuspid was 32.0 mm,
2
while
Bjorndal et al. reported the longest maxillary canine
at 33.3 mm in 1974.
3
In 1979, Wiene reported a
surgically extracted human maxillary canine of 39.5-
mm length.
4
While in 1982, Gray came up with an
extracted upper canine of 41-mm.
5
Also, a maxillary
canine length of 47-mm has been reported.
6
Extremely long maxillary canines present
challenges when an RCT is indicated, especially
during canal preparation. Endodontic instrument
consists of cable and body (intermediate and active
part) and the longest file available is 31- mm length.
7
Only a few authors have experienced endodontic
treatment of long maxillary canine.
7-12
Although
it is very rare to face such critical situation, an
unusual mechanical alteration and modification
of the instruments and techniques should be
implemented to achieve the objectives of RCT.
Our aim of this case report was to accomplish
biomechanical preparation and obturation of a very
long maxillary canine of a 37-mm length and to
discuss the treatment modifications that must be
considered to successfully manage such very rare
cases.
Case Report
A 75-year-old Sudanese man with no significant
past medical history was presented with a chief
complaint of multiple decayed teeth and food
impaction on the upper right canine. Visually,
the intra-oral clinical examination revealed dental
caries on all upper anterior teeth. The tooth of.
chief complaint showed mesial proximal dental
caries. It responded negatively to cold sensibility
test, without tenderness to vertical or horizontal
percussion, and its crown width and length were
within the average normal dimension of maxillary
canines with slight attrition of up to 1mm. Normal
physiological mobility and no swelling or palpation
on the soft tissues over the apex area. Soft tissues
examination revealed marginal gingivitis of all
anterior teeth with normal pocket depth, and extra-
oral examination no abnormality detected. Intra oral
periapical radiographic for the tooth of complaint
(#13) showed abnormal length of 37 mm figure 1.
University of Medical Sciences
and Technology, Sudan
*
Correspondence to:
sowaraldahb@gmail.com
Received: 6 December 2018
Revised: 20 January 2019
Accepted: 25 March 2019
Available Online: 1 May 2020