title: Cone beam computed tomography assessment of the maxillary incisive canal and foramen: considerations of anatomical variations when placing immediate implants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The maxillary incisive canal connects the roof of the oral cavity with the floor of nasal cavity and has the incisive and nasal foramina respectively at its two opposite ends. Its close proximity with the anterior incisors affects one's ability to place immediate implants in ideal position.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To avoid causing complication, variations in their dimensions were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images of ninety Mongoloids patients examined with i-CAT Cone Beam Computed Tomography were included. The sizes of the nasopalatine foramen, the incisive canal and foramen, and anterior maxillary bone thickness were measured. The direction and course of the canals were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean labiopalatal and mesiodistal measurements of the incisive foramen were 2.80 mm and 3.49 mm respectively, while the labiopalatal width of the nasal foramen was 6.06 mm. The incisive canal was 16.33 mm long and 3.85 mm wide. The anterior maxillary bone has an average thickness of 7.63 mm. The dimensions of the incisive foramen and incisive canal, and anterior maxillary bone thickness demonstrated gender differences with males showing greater values. The anterior maxillary bone thickness was affected by age but this difference was not observed in canal dimensions. The majority of subjects have a funnel shape-like incisive canal with the broader opening located at its superior. They seem to have a longer slanted-curve canal with one channel at its middle portion and a narrower incisive foramen opening than those reported elsewhere.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that gender is an important factor that affected the characteristics of the IC and the amount of bone anterior to it. Male generally had bigger IC and thicker anterior bone. In addition, the anterior maxillary bone thickness was affected by aging, where it becomes thinner with increased age even though the subjects were fully dentate.
authors: Dept. of Diagnostic and Integrated Dental Practice, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Samah M
authors: SM
authors: Al-Amery
authors: Dept. of Diagnostic and Integrated Dental Practice, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Phrabhakaran
authors: P
authors: Nambiar
authors: Dept. of Community Oral Health and Clinical Prevention, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Marhazlinda
authors: M
authors: Jamaludin
authors: Dept. of Diagnostic and Integrated Dental Practice, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Jacob
authors: J
authors: John
authors: Dept. of Oro-Maxillofacial Surgical and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Wei Cheong
authors: WC
authors: Ngeow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D010159:Palate / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult