A comparative study of mandibular nutrient canals in healthy and hypertensive subjects

Abstract

Objectives: The present study has been undertaken to find out any correlation with the prevalence of nutrient canals in hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods: A comparative study was done on patients with control group comprising of healthy individuals, and a study group of patients with a history of hypertension. An IOPAR of lower anterior region was done using bisecting angle technique and was interpreted for the presence or absence of nutrient canals. The results so obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: We found that the incidence of nutrient canals was significantly higher in the study group as compared with the control group. The incidence of nutrient canals was also found to increase with age till 70 years. Conclusion: Hypertension being one of the most commonly encountered medical problems and many cases being undiagnosed, the presence of nutrient canals though not entirely indicative of hypertension, might increase the suspicion of the condition to be investigated further.

Keywords

• Healthy individuals
• hypertension
• nutrient canals