Endodontic treatment of a mandibular premolar with Vertucci type V root canal morphology: a rare case report

Mandibular premolars have been reported with complex anatomical aberrations, making endodontic treatment of these teeth extremely difficult. A case of endodontic retreatment of a mandibular second premolar exhibiting root canal bifurcation (Vertucci type V root canal configuration) of two apical foramina was described. A 39-year-old female with a non-significant medical history presented with a chief complaint of pain in a previously endodontically treated tooth. Clinical examination revealed tenderness to percussion. Intraoral periapical radiographs taken at different angulations revealed one root and two apical foramina. The main root canal was filled short of the apex and the other canal was not filled due to the broken file. Root canal retreatment was performed following the standard protocols. Although the prevalence of one root and two apical foramina in mandibular premolar is very low, clinicians should always be aware of variations in the number of roots and canals for the proper management of such cases.