Pattern diversity and prevalence of bifid mandibular canal: a CBCT-based cross-sectional study : Evaluation of Bifid Mandibular Canal via CBCT.

Background: Accurate determination of the position and configuration of the inferior alveolar canal is crucial for the planning of oral surgical procedures involving the mandible, such as orthognathic surgery, implant placement, impacted tooth extraction, and fracture treatment, to prevent potential complications. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and types of bifid mandibular canal (BMC) within a subpopulation from Central Anatolia using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

Methods: The study examined a total of 300 CBCT images, including 118 male and 182 female patients, resulting in the analysis of 600 inferior alveolar canals on both the right and left sides. The anatomy of these canals was assessed according to Naitoh's (2009) classification of BMC into four types: forward canal, dental canal, retromolar canal, and buccolingual canal. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS v21.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). The frequency of BMC was evaluated based on its occurrence on the right and left sides of the mandible, as well as its association with age and gender, using the Chi-square test.

Results: Among the 300 patients whose CBCT images were examined, 68 (22.7%) were found to have BMC, with 31 males and 37 females. No significant differences in the frequency of BMC were observed concerning age and gender. The most frequently observed canal type was the dental canal (36.46%).

Conclusion: To minimize the risk of complications, it is essential to understand the anatomy of the inferior alveolar canal and its possible anatomical variations before conducting dental procedures and mandibular surgeries. It is recommended to evaluate BMC using CBCT imaging before surgical interventions.