[Cone beam computed tomography evaluation of bifid mandibular canals in the adult population in Sichuan Province].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of bifid mandibular canals (BMC), and analyze the types, courses, and anatomic features of the variant canals in the adult population in Sichuan Province.


METHODS
Five hundred patients (1 000 hemimandibles) underwent cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were included in this study. The incidence, bifurcate types and courses of the BMC were evaluated.


RESULTS
The incidence of BMC was 13.8% (69/500) in the study, 9.2% in terms of total hemimandibles. The most frequently type was retromolar canals, followed by the dental and buccolingual type, meanwhile the lowest was the forward type. The mean diameter of the accessory canals was 0.90 mm and the mean length was 9.39 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
CBCT used in this study has shown that the incidence of BMC assessed by CBCT was significantly higher than panoramic radiography. Furthermore, CBCT can depict the position, course, size and the branches of the mandibular canals. .
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Ye
Y
Li
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Chen
C
Yafei
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Pei
P
Jun
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Dept. of Radiology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Liu
L
Yuanyuan
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Qi
Q
Shuqun
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Pan
P
Jian
D000818:Animals; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008334:Mandible; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic
bifurcate; cone beam computed tomography; incidence; mandibular canal