Prevalence and Characterization of bifid mandibular Canal Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A Retrospective...

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.

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.

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.

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.