Taurodontism: A dental rarity
A 25-year-old male patient was referred to Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, for the treatment of upper right and left first molar teeth. Intraoral examination revealed fracture of the palatal cusps with respect to 16 and buccal cusp fracture with respect to 26 []. At the time of examination, the teeth were asymptomatic. The teeth were not sensitive to percussion or palpation. Intraoral examination revealed a normal-shaped crown. Periodontal probing was within the normal range. Patient's medical history was noncontributory. Upon vitality testing, 26 showed positive response to thermal and electric pulp testing. The 16 showed no response to thermal and electric pulp testing indicating necrotic pulp. Intraoral periapical radiograph of 16 showed huge pulp chamber extending beyond the cervical area reaching the furcation in the apical third region []. Three short roots were seen at the furcation area in the apical third indicating hypertaurodontism. The intraoral periapical radiograph of contralateral 26 revealed similar findings []. The diagnosis of hypertaurodontism for the present case was made based on the radiographic finding and taurodont index as proposed by Shiffman and Chanannel [].\nThe tooth was anesthetized with lidocaine 2% with epinephrine 1:1, 00,000 (Lignox 2% A Warren India). Magnifying loupes (Carl Zeiss, India) were used throughout the procedure to facilitate visualization. The tooth was isolated and access cavity prepared. The pulp tissue which was voluminous was extirpated. A total of 2.5% of sodium hypochlorite was used as irrigating solution. The furcation area was situated in the apical third region and three canal orifices were located at the furcation area; palatal, mesiobuccal and distobuccal.\nWorking length determination was performed using electronic apex locator Propex II (Dentsply Maillefer, Switzerland, USA) and was confirmed with a radiograph []. After working length determination the instrumentation of the canals was done to size 40 for the palatal canal and up to size 30 for the mesial canals using RC prep (Premier, Ultradent, USA) as a lubricanting agent.\nA modified obturation technique was used because of complexity of inner root canal anatomy. This consisted of combined lateral condensation of the gutta percha in the apical part with vertical compaction of the remaining pulp chamber. AH-plus (Dentsply, Switzerland, USA) was used as a root canal sealer. The final radiograph confirmed well-obturated root canal system [].