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Prevalence of bifid variations of the mandibular canal in an Iranian population using cone-beam computed tomography

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Abstract

Objectives

Bifid mandibular canal (MC) is an anatomical variation of the MC. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and shape of bifid MC in an Iranian population.

Materials and methods

A total of 681 patients who had undergone cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for different purposes between 2018 and 2020 were evaluated. After detection, bifid MCs were classified into four types forward, buccolingual, dental, and retromolar. CBCT images were assessed by two oral and maxillofacial radiologists. Data were analyzed by SPSS using an independent t-test and Chi-square test.

Results

Bifid MC was found in 23 (3.4%) out of 681 patients, with a mean age of 32.21 years. Ten patients (1.5%) had a bifid MC on the right side, 6 (0.9%) on the left side, and 7 (1%) bilaterally. However, no significant correlation was found between laterality and the prevalence of bifid MC (P > 0.05). Bifid MC was found in 8 males (34.8%) and 15 females (65.2%). Gender had no significant correlation with the prevalence of bifid MC (P > 0.05). Forward type was the most common (n = 8, 1.2%) followed by buccolingual (n = 5, 0.73%), dental (n = 2, 0.3%), and retromolar (n = 1, 0.14%) types.

Conclusion

According to the present results, bifid MC was not uncommon in the Iranian population of the present study, and forward type was the most common, followed by buccal and then dental bifid MCs. There was no significant correlation between sex and age with bifid MC but bifid MC was detected more frequently in females than males, and it was seen unilaterally in a higher percentage of the cases.

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Data availability

The data analyzed during the current study will be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental Implants Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Abbas Shokri

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Azita Ehsani

  3. Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologist, Gilan, Iran

    Arman Yousefi

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  1. Abbas Shokri
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  2. Azita Ehsani
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  3. Arman Yousefi
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Correspondence to Azita Ehsani.

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This research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Hamadan University of Medial Science. (Approval number: IR.UMSHA.REC.1397.800).

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Shokri, A., Ehsani, A. & Yousefi, A. Prevalence of bifid variations of the mandibular canal in an Iranian population using cone-beam computed tomography. Oral Radiol 39, 779–783 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-023-00698-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-023-00698-3

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