Lower molars usually have two roots, one toward the front of the mouth and one toward the back. Pediatric dentists in India have now described two cases in which a lower baby molar carried a third root, a rare variation called radix entomolaris that is usually discussed in permanent teeth. In both cases, the extra root turned up during routine clinical and X-ray examination.
The report, written by dentists in the Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry at King George's Medical University in Lucknow, appeared on April 1, 2026, in BMJ Case Reports. Its title sums up the theme: "Tiny teeth, big surprises." The authors argue that recognizing the extra root matters for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, especially when a child needs root canal treatment.
