title: Bifid mandibular canals: prevalence and implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bifid mandibular canals (BMCs) are variations of the normal anatomy, with a reported prevalence ranging from 0.08 to 65%. Aberrations of the mandibular canal can have important clinical implications. We therefore sought to assess the prevalence of BMCs and discuss several surgical implications that may be associated with this variation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart study of available digital panoramic images from our file archives from 2011 to 2013 was performed to search for the prevalence of BMCs; to this end, 5,000 consecutive panoramic radiographs of patients aged 18 to 80 years were studied. Detection of BMCs was based on visualization of 2 radiolucent lines and at least 3 radiopaque borders on the monitor and confirmed by 2 oral and maxillofacial surgeons and 2 dentists. The types of bifidity also were assessed and recorded. Data analysis was performed using the χ(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BMCs were observed in 61, or 1.2%, of 5,000 digital panoramic images. There were no statistically significant correlations found regarding age or gender. The most frequently encountered type of bifid canal was type 2 (82%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of BMCs seen on panoramic images in this study was 1.2% and was not correlated with age or gender.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Trauma Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: motamedical@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hosein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kalantar Motamedi
authors.affiliation: Faculty, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Azad University of Medical Sciences, Dental Branch, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Navi
authors.affiliation: Private Practitioner, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarabi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D063405:Anatomic Variation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult