• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2014

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of bifid and trifid mandibular canals using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, and to measure their length, diameter, and angle. Materials and Methods: CBCT images of 500 patients, involving 755 hemi-mandibles, were used for this study. The presence and type of bifid mandibular canal was evaluated according to a modified classification of Naitoh et al. Prevalence rates were determined according to age group, gender, and type. Further, their diameter, length, and angles were measured using PACSPLUS Viewer and ImageJ 1.46r. Statistical analysis with chi-squared and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests was performed. Results: Bifid and trifid mandibular canals were found in 22.6% of the 500 patients and 16.2% of the 755 sides. There was no significant difference between genders and among age groups. The retromolar canal type accounted for 71.3% of the identified canals; the dental canal type, 18.8%; the forward canal type, 4.1%; and the trifid canal type, 5.8%. Interestingly, seven cases of the trifid canal type, which has been rarely reported, were observed. The mean diameter of the bifid and trifid mandibular canals was 2.2 mm and that of the main mandibular canal was 4.3 mm. Their mean length was 16.9 mm; the mean superior angle was $149.2^{\circ}$, and the mean inferior angle was $37.7^{\circ}$. Conclusion: Bifid and trifid mandibular canals in the Korean population were observed at a relatively high rate through a CBCT evaluation, and the most common type was the retromolar canal. CBCT is suggested for a detailed evaluation of bifid and trifid mandibular canals before mandibular surgery.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2009

When performing the inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia, surgeon often faced a difficulty of the surgical operation due to the incomplete anesthesia. One of the reason is the variety of mandibular canal anatomy. Up to now, there are some reports of index cases about bifid mandibular canal among mandibular canal anatomic variation, and some classification is applied according to anatomical location and configuration. When surgical operation is performed involving mandible such as dantal implant treatment, extraction of an impacted third molar, sagittal split ramus osteotomy, etc, the position of mandibular canal should be considered. Bifid mandibular canal clinically causes troublesome cases of anesthesia when inferior alvelor nerve block, especially is performed extraction of an impacted third molar. Therefore, It is important for clinicians to recognize the presence of bifid canals on radiographys. Nowadays, the position of mandibular canal can be measured precisely by using Dental CT. It is not found by panorama image but is found by Dental CT sometimes. Among the patients, which take panorama and Dental CT simultaneously, for tooth extraction of lower impacted third molar in our department, we report the case that did not identifying in panorama but identifying it in Dental CT.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the incidence and configuration of the bifid mandibular canal in a Korean population by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. Materials and Methods: CBCT images of 1933 patients (884 male and 1049 female) were evaluated using PSR-9000N and Alphard-Vega 3030 Dental CT units (Asahi Roentgen Ind. Co., Ltd, Kyoto, Japan). Image analysis was performed by using OnDemand3D software (CyberMed Inc., Seoul, Korea). The bifid mandibular canal was identified and classified into four types, namely, the forward canal, buccolingual canal, dental canal, and retromolar canal. Statistical analysis was performed by using the chi-squared test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Bifid mandibular canals were observed in 198 (10.2%) of 1933 patients. The most frequently observed type of bifid mandibular canal was the retromolar canal (n=104, rate: 52.5%) without any significant difference among the incidence of each age and gender. The mean diameter of the accessory canal was 1.27 mm (range: 0.27-3.29 mm) without any significant difference among the mean diameter of each type of the bifid mandibular canal. The mean length of the bifid mandibular canals was 14.97mm(range: 2.17-38.8 mm) with only a significant difference between the dental canal and the other types. Conclusion: The bifid mandibular canal is not uncommon in Koreans and has a prevalence of 10.2% as indicated in the present study. It is suggested that a CBCT examination be recommended for detecting a bifid canal.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.209-212
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• 2009

Bifid mandibular canal can be an anatomic variation. This condition can lead to complication when performing mandibular anesthesia or during extraction of lower third molar, placement of implants and surgery in the mandible. Four patients underwent preoperative imaging for extraction of third molars using CBCT (CB Mercuray, Hitachi, Japan). The axial images were processed with CBworks program 2.1 (CyberMed Inc., Seoul, Korea). The branches for supplying the lower third molar were identified mainly on cross-sectional and panoramic images of CBCT. Since the location and configuration of mandibular canal variations are important in any mandibular surgical procedures, we report 4 cases of bifid mandibular canal with panoramic and the CBCT images.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.753-761
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to examine distribution of accessory mandibular canal and its characteristics in mandibular third molars. Materials and methods: A total of 251 subjects (166 males and 85 females) having mandibular third molars bilaterally were included in the study. Cone-beam computed tomographic images were reviewed for bifid or trifid accessory mandibular canal. The prevalence of accessory mandibular canal was evaluated according to gender, side and its branching type. Proximity and crosssectional position of accessory mandibular canal to mandibular third molar was analyzed. Results: Accessory mandibular canals were found in 66 (26.3%) of 251 patients and 86 (17.1%) of 502 hemi-mandibles. Gender and sides showed no statistically significant differences in prevalence. Retromolar canal (46.1%) was the most common branching type. Proximity of accessory canal to mandibular third molars showed mean distance of 2.8 mm from third molar and a statistically significant difference was found among types of accessory canal. Dental canal was the closest to tooth among branching types and closer to tooth than main canal. On cross-sectional view, accessory canal was generally located on buccal side of mandibular third molar. Conclusion: Accessory mandibular canal was common and well detected with cone-beam computed tomography. Their localization is significant in all anesthetic and surgical procedures involving mandibular third molars.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the reliability of 7 panoramic radiographic signs for predicting proximity of the root apices of mandibular third molars to the mandibular canal using cone-beam computed tomography and to correlate these findings with the Pell and Gregory and the Winter classification systems. Materials and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on 74 patients with bilateral impacted mandibular third molars. Four panoramic radiographic signs were observed in the tooth root (darkening, deflection, and narrowing of the root apices, and bifid apices), and another 3 in the mandibular canal (diversion, narrowing, and interruption of the mandibular canal). Cone-beam computed tomography images were analyzed to identify disruption and diversion of the mandibular canal and root deflection. Results: Binary logistic regression showed that only 4 of the 7 panoramic radiographic signs were able to predict proximity of the root apices of the mandibular third molars to the mandibular canal: darkening of the root, deflection of the root, narrowing of the root, and interruption of the mandibular canal(P<0.05). Conclusion: Darkening, deflection, and narrowing of the root, in tandem with the interruption of the mandibular canal on panoramic radiographs, indicate that cone-beam computed tomography should be performed when planning the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Proximity between mandibular third molars and the mandibular canal is correlated with the Winter classification.