CORRELATION BETWEEN AGE AND GENDER WITH THE PRESENCE OF ANTERIOR MANDIBULAR NUTRIENT CANALS IN A SAMPLE OF PATIENTS VISITED TIU DENTAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of mandibular nutrient canals in a sample of patients who attended TIU dental hospital and to explore whether a link between age and prevalence rate exists and gender predilection can be observed. This retrospective descriptive radiographic study was conducted on OPGs taken in the Department of Radiology and Oral Diagnosis/ Faculty of Dentistry between September 2017 and September 2020. 6631 OPG’s were collected and all were examined for this research. It was found that out of total of 3,705 OPGs, about 354 (9.554%) of examined OPGs contained observable nutrient canals while 3,351 (90.445%) of OPGs did not. There was (60%) female, (40%) male split, indicating a slight female gender predilection. The mean age of patients whose OPGs demonstrated nutrient canals was (43) years, ranging between 16 to 80 years, with a nutrient canal mean of (1.406) canals. The highest prevalence rate was in the 1960-1969 age group, closely followed by the 1980-1989 age group. The age group with the least amount of prevalence recorded was the 1940-1949 age group. Most (66.38%) OPGs presented only one nutrient canal. Most people did not present with nutrient canals, only 1 out of 10 patients showing one in their OPGs and most who demonstrated NC in their OPG were middle-aged.

Keywords

• orthopantogram; panoramic radiograph; implant safety; canals; descriptive study.