Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry (Sep 2022)

Prevalence and Characterization of bifid mandibular Canal Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

  • Soman C,
  • Wahass T,
  • Alahmari H,
  • Alamri N,
  • Albiebi A,
  • Alhabashy M,
  • Talha A,
  • Alqhtani N

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 297 – 306

Abstract

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Cristalle Soman,1 Tariq Wahass,2 Hatem Alahmari,2 Nader Alamri,2 Assaf Albiebi,2 Mohammed Alhabashy,2 Abdulrahman Talha,2 Nasser Alqhtani3 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Science, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Science, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Tariq Wahass, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, 4078, Alshabareqah St, Ishbiliyah District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 0112402529, Email [email protected]: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and morphological characteristics of the bifid mandibular canal in a Saudi Arabian subpopulation, to aid in preventing surgical complications near the mandibular canal.Patients and Methods: Using CBCT images obtained from the Radiology unit database in a University Hospital Clinics. A total of 488 CBCT images were investigated (244 Female – 178 Male). In the present study, the Naitoh classification was used to categorize the bifid mandibular canal into the following types: 1) Retromolar canal; 2) Dental canal; 3) Forward canal (with or without confluence); and 4) Buccolingual canal. Additional variation (Trifid canal) was included. All CBCTs were assessed in coronal, sagittal, axial, as well as panoramic views using specialized software.Results: The prevalence of BMC was 28.7% (95% CI, 24.5 to 33.2), Gender (p = 0.404) and age (p = 0.654) had no statistical significances, laterality of BMC, patients with unilateral BMC were significantly older than those with bilateral BMC (mean ± SD ages of 40.5 ± 13.5 and 32.9 ± 13.8, respectively, p = 0.009). About two-thirds (67.5%) of the investigated BMC cases were found unilateral. The most common reported type of BMC was retromolar canal.Conclusion: The incidence of bifid mandibular canal using CBCT is considered relatively high in Saudi Arabian subpopulation, with the most common type was the retro-molar canal.Keywords: mandibular canal, bifid mandibular canal, cone-beam computed tomography, anatomical variation, surgical complications, dental implant

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