Cone beam computed tomography evaluation of bifid mandibular canals in the adult population in Sichuan Province

Abstract

To investigate the incidence of bifid mandibular canals (BMC), and analyze the types, courses, and anatomic features of the variant canals in the adult population in Sichuan Province. Five hundred patients (1 000 hemimandibles) underwent cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were included in this study. The incidence, bifurcate types and courses of the BMC were evaluated. The incidence of BMC was 13.8% (69/500) in the study, 9.2% in terms of total hemimandibles. The most frequently type was retromolar canals, followed by the dental and buccolingual type, meanwhile the lowest was the forward type. The mean diameter of the accessory canals was 0.90 mm and the mean length was 9.39 mm. CBCT used in this study has shown that the incidence of BMC assessed by CBCT was significantly higher than panoramic radiography. Furthermore, CBCT can depict the position, course, size and the branches of the mandibular canals. .