Visibility and course of mandibular incisive canal using cone beam computed tomography

Abstract

Considering importance of recognizing the position of incisive canal before inserting intraosseous implants and bone harvesting from the symphysis and to preventing from adverse effects after these surgeries, using appropriate imaging method is essential and necessary. High accuracy measurement and high quality of CBCT and also low received dose to patient shows the importance of recognizing the position of incisive canal with CBCT. Material and Methods: In this study good quality CBCT mandible image of 50 patients including 26 woman and 24 men with average ages of 41/3 +-2/5 were observed for diagnosing and recognizing the position of mandibular incisive canal by three observers separately. Results: Horizontal & vertical assessment was independent from the sex of patients. The incisal canal was recognizable in 89.8 percent of samples. In vertical dimension in 57.5 percent of samples the canal was observed in inferior one third and in 32.25 percent in medial one third. In horizontal dimension in 14.75 percent of samples the canal was observed in the buccal one third, 52.75 percent in medial one third and 22.25 percent lingual one third. Conclusion: Quality of CBCT imaging and its accuracy and resolution play an important role in differentiation and determination of the position of incisive canal.