title: Morphological and volumetric evaluation of the nasopalatinal canal in a Turkish population using cone-beam computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish (nasopalatine canal) NPC morphology and obtain linear and volumetric measurements using CBCT images.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated CBCT scans of 252 patients. NPC shape was classified as belonging to six groups. Following measurements were recorded: M1, nasal foramen diameter; M2, incisive foramen diameter; M3, NPC length; M4, distance from the buccal border of the incisive foramen to the facial aspect of the buccal bone plate; M5, distance from the buccal bone wall of the NPC to the facial aspect of the buccal bone plate; and M6, distance from the buccal border in the middle of the NPC to the facial aspect of the buccal bone plate. Volume and surface area measurements of the NPC were also conducted. Sex, age and maxillary anterior teeth status (MCI) were recorded. Four-way repeated ANOVA was performed. Significance level was set at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the exception of M4 and M5, the relationship between MCI and all linear measurements was statistically significant. Patient sex had a significant effect on all NPC measurements with the exception of nasal foramen diameter, with all measurements greater in males than females (p < 0.001). NPC volume was found to vary significantly by patient sex (p = 0.042), with mean NPC volume values of 55.171 mm(3) for females and 72.966 mm(3) for males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurements conducted around nasopalatine canal provided useful information prior to implant placement in the anterior maxilla.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, dtbuketonder@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Buket
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Kıvanç
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamburoğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003757:Dental Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010159:Palate / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey