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| LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
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| Year : 2019 | Volume
: 22
| Issue : 4 | Page : 234-235 |
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Three-rooted mandibular third molar in a Nigerian adult
Aliu Adamson Rufai, Bamidele Adetokunbo Famurewa, Stephen Babatunde Aregbesola
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pathology, OAUTH, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| Date of Submission | 25-Jul-2018 |
| Date of Acceptance | 11-Sep-2018 |
| Date of Web Publication | 29-Nov-2019 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Aliu Adamson Rufai
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pathology, OAUTH, Ile-Ife, Osun State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/smj.smj_44_18
How to cite this article:
Rufai AA, Famurewa BA, Aregbesola SB. Three-rooted mandibular third molar in a Nigerian adult. Sahel Med J 2019;22:234-5 |
Sir,
Two-rooted mandibular third molar is the norm in clinical dentistry. However, studies have reported rare occurrences of three-rooted mandibular third molars.[1],[2]
We report a case of a 34-year-old Nigerian female with a three-rooted right mandibular third molar. She was planned for extraction of the tooth on account of acute irreversible pulpitis secondary to dental caries. Periapical radiograph [Figure 1] showed three roots with the third located between the mesial and distal roots at the furcation.
The tooth was extracted through an intra-alveolar approach. Postexodontia evaluation of the tooth revealed the additional root at the buccal aspect of its cervical margin [Figure 2]. Based on the findings from radiograph and morphology of the extracted tooth, we are certain that the tooth has three roots, namely mesial, distal, and buccal roots.
Incidences of mandibular third molars with three roots in patients of Mongolian, Caucasian, and Negro origin are 0.9%, 0.8%, and 2.8%, respectively.[3] To the best of our knowledge, we are not aware of any report from Nigeria on the mandibular third molars with three roots.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Loh HS. Incidence and features of three-rooted permanent mandibular molars. Aust Dent J 1990;35:434-7.  |
| 2. | Schneider T, Filo K, Kruse AL, Locher M, Grätz KW, Lübbers HT. Variations in the anatomical positioning of impacted mandibular wisdom teeth and their practical implications. Swiss Dent J 2014;124:520-38. |
| 3. | Ferraz JA, Pécora JD. Three-rooted mandibular molars in patients of Mongolian, Caucasian and Negro origin. Braz Dent J 1993;3:113-7. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
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