Morphometric Analysis of The Mandibular Incisive Canal in Different Facial Patterns

Abstract

The study evaluated the morphometry of the mandibular incisive canal correlating with the different patterns of facial growth. The sample consisted of 90 cone beam computed tomography scans, divided into 3 groups: brachyfacial (n=30), mesofacial (n=30) and dolicofacial (n=30). For the determination of these groups, the acquisitions were arranged in the Dolphin 3D software to perform the Ricketts 3D cephalometric tracing and the VERT index. Next, the images were worked on the Ondemand3d software to perform the morphometric analysis of the incisive canal. For data analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney test were performed to test the interference of facial patterns, sex and age in the Mandibular Incisive Canal Extension. In the intragroup analysis of the MICE, the Friedman test was used, considering a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of 5%. The sample consisted of 54.4% of males and 45.6% of females. Sex and age had no effect on morphology and incisive canal extension. When the relationship between facial patterns and MICE was observed, brachyfacials (11.09 mm) presented a larger extent (p<0.001) than dolicofacial (4.10 mm) and mesofacial (5.55 mm). When the morphology of the MIC was analyzed, most individuals presented the linear horizontal format, and there was no direction between the groups. Thus, we can conclude that the facial pattern influences the MICE and sex, age and morphology were not influenced by the facial pattern.