Misunderstanding of internal root canal morphology – a failure cause of the endodontic treatment (clinical case)

Knowledge regarding the morphology of the endodontic system is crucial when performing both a treatment and a retreatment which should be both efficient and predictable. The misapprehension regarding the anatomy of the root canals is one of the various issues which might occur during the endodontic treatment, as well as afterwards. The aim of this article is to emphasize, through a clinical case, the failure of a primary endodontic treatment, due to the misapprehension regarding the internal morphology of the inferior incisors, which in turn led to errors in preparing the cavity for endodontic access, to neglect the instrumentation, the lavage and the obturation of the second canal, and finally determining the occurrence of a manifest apical lesion. In order to achieve a good final result, the two canals underwent correct retreatment and tight obturation, after which the patient will be radiologically and/or computertomographical monitored for at least two years.