title: Evaluation of maxillary incisive canal characteristics related to dental implant treatment with computerized tomography: a clinical multicenter study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A close anatomic relationship between the incisive canal and the roots of the central maxillary incisors should be kept in mind during dental-implant treatment in the anterior maxilla. The aim of the present study is to analyze incisive canal characteristics on computed tomography (CT) sections and to evaluate its relation to bone anterior to the canal with regard to dental implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 933 partially edentulous and/or edentulous patients scheduled for implant insertion in four dental clinics enrolled in the present study. The following were measured and recorded from CT sections for analysis: 1) diameter and length of the incisive canal; 2) width and length of the bone anterior to the canal; 3) palatal bone width and length; and 4) root width and length of the central incisor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean canal length was 10.86 ± 2.67 mm, and mean diameter was 2.59 ± 0.91 mm. Canal length was shortened in edentulous anterior maxilla compared to dentate maxilla. However, canal diameter did not show any difference between dentate and edentulous groups. Males had a longer and wider incisive canal than females. Canal shape was mostly cylindrical in 40.73% of images. No correlation was found with mean canal length and mean canal diameter according to age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although variations exist in every patient, the findings from this study suggest that sex and dental status are important factors that can affect incisive canal characteristics and amount of bone anterior to the canal. Clinicians should perform careful planning using CT scans before performing dental implant surgeries in premaxillary region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. ttozum@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Tolga F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Tözüm
authors.forename: Güliz N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Güncü
authors.forename: Yağmur D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
authors.forename: Hasan Güney
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galindo-Moreno
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velasco-Torres
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Hezaimi
authors.forename: Raed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Sadhan
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.forename: Hom-Lay
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012737:Sex Factors; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult