Armaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal (Apr 2020)
Frequency of Bifid Mandibular Canals and it’s Relationship with Third Molar Teeth in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBTT)
Abstract
Background & aim: The mandibular canal is a canal within the mandible that contains the inferior alveolar nerve, inferior alveolar artery, and inferior alveolar vein. Surgery within the mandibular canal requires accurate knowledge of the intra-bone pathway and anatomy of the canal due to the possibility of damage to the mandibular canal. Considering the importance of being aware of the variability of the mandibular canal and the fact that few researches has been conducted in Iran through CBCT, the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of bifurcated mandibular canal and to investigate its relationship with the third molar in CBTT images. Methods: In the present retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study, the Cone Beam Computed Topographies (CBCTs) of 101 patients were evaluated and classified by sex, and by the presence or absence of bifurcation. The CBCT examination was employed from recorded CBCT of a private oral and maxillofacial radiology center (Yasuj, Iran) from 22 July to 22 September 2019.The type of bifurcation was identified using Langlais and Correr classification. The Data was evaluated using the SPSS software, and the BMC types and frequency were determined. The Chi square test was used to assess the relationship between sex and bifid canals. P≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: The results displayed 50% of the identified cases of type 1(one bilateral branch stretched to the third molar or around) and 50% of type 2 (two bilateral unilateral branches that were stretched along the main canal and join in the mandibular Ramus). Based on the blind classification 20% (2) of type B (i.e., the close proximity between the two-branched mandibular canal and one-third of the third molar tooth crown) and 80% (8) cases were of type D. In the present study, the frequency of bifurcated mandibular canal was 9.9% and a significant relationship was observed between bifurcated mandibular canal and sex (p<0.04). Conclusion: Due to the significant abundance of bifurcated mandibular canals and possible complications from surgical procedures, it is necessary to examine the mandibular canal before surgery. It was also much more common in women than in men. The need to examine each channel in third molar surgery and surgical intervention in the area to care for and prevent nerve damage is clear.
