The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
To analyze the occurrence rate of bifurcated mandibular canal (BMC) by cone beam CT(CBCT) and summarise a new classification for further clinical work and academic communication.
Randomly collected the CBCT images of 350 adult patients. Firstly, we analysed and summarized the BMCs into four types by the position of bifurcation point in the mandible. Second, we did statistics about occurrence. Then we have measured three kinds of distance of Type I and Type II. At last, we compared the advantages and disadvantages about different classifications.
Among these 350 patients, we found 110 adult people with BMC which indicated the occurrence rate of BMC was 31.43%. The most common type was Type I, especially Type IB, and the least was Type III. Vertical distance between the apex of the second molar, the third molar and mandibular canal are 4.36±2.51 mm and 2.45±2.23 mm. Distance from the apex of two molars to the bifurcated spot are 15.87±6.82mm and 9.32±5.37mm. And the distance between the apex and retromolar foramen in Type I are 22.19±5.97mm and 15.82±4.68mm.
Comparing with former typing theory, we summarized a new classification which is simpler and more convenient, which should attach scholars’ attention to BMC during clinical work.
In our dental clinical work, some patients have bleeding of unknown etiology, or neural symptoms of the mandibular nerve after alveolus surgeries, implantation, or sagittal split ramus osteotomy/bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO/BSSRO). In exploring the causes of these symptoms, many scholars have found that the mandibular nerve canal has variations at different positions, rather than being a single canal.
Conventional theory described the mandibular canal (MC) as a cortical bone canal located between the cancellous bone of the mandible that travels inferoanteriorly in the mandibular ramus and almost horizontally forward in the body
After these reports, more scholars have found it important to use other methods to research the variation of the mandibular canal, such as autopsy, histopathology, and imaging modalities (e.g., panoramic radiographs, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and spiral CT)
These values were sufficient to demonstrate that the bifurcated mandibular canal is not unusual. Zhang
As a result, we aimed to perform a research study on the structural variation of the mandibular neural canal by CBCT and, thus, pointed a constant symbol for classification and summed up a more comprehensive, yet simple, quantitative and practical typing theory for the bifurcated mandibular canals, to make clinical work and academic communication easier.
The CBCT data of 350 patients aged 18 to70 years were randomly collected from the Xiangya Stomatological Hospital of Central South University between December 2012 and July 2017. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Xiangya Stomatological Hospital of Central South University, approval number 20190033.
Given the low prevalence of head and neck cancers which involve the skull base, we set
a. Patients 18 to 70 years of age with complete images of the mandibular canal from the mandibular foramen to the mental foramen.
b. The mandible is integrated without obvious absorption, and the direction of the mandibular canal is not affected by the fracture line.
c. The image of mandibular foramen is intact and clear.
a. CBCT image is blurred or there is interference in the observation area.
b. Mandible lesions (e.g., cyst, tumor, infection, severe osteoporosis) and other lesions that can obstruct observation.
c. After mandibular surgery, as the fracture line affects the direction of the mandibular canal, segmental resection, and SSRO.
CBCT scanning: All the images used in this study were collected by the same CBCT scanner (PLANMECA), and all patients were imaged according to the standard process. Finally, the image data were stored in the PLANMECA Romexis software system.
In a quiet workspace, well-trained researchers adjusted the contrast images with software to make the bone structure clear and easy to define. Images were read twice with a 3-week interval between readings.
The second reading process was somewhat different: the researchers adjusted the sagittal images to make the lower edge of the mandible parallel to ground, then: (1) a horizontal line was made parallel to the lower edge of the mandible (
I | IA | A bifurcation at the mandibular ramus and the retromolar foramen has been formed. (Fig. 2A,B; Note 1) |
IB | A bifurcation at the mandibular ramus and the retromolar foramen has not been formed. (Fig. 2C) | |
II | Bifurcations at the mandibular body. (Fig. 2D) | |
III | Bifurcations exist both at the mandibular body and the mandibular ramus on one side. (Fig. 2E; Note 2) | |
IV | Other circumstances (e.g., trigeminal nerve canal or multi-canal derived from different origins) (Fig. 2F) |
According to our rules, we divided BMC into four types. Type IA was bifurcations at the mandibular ramus, and retromolar foramen has been formed. Type IB was bifurcations at the mandibular ramus, and retromolar foramen has not been formed. We took those bifurcations at mandibular body as Type II. Type III was for bifurcations exist both at the mandibular body and the mandibular ramus on one side. Type IV for other circumstances. Details as following in
*Note 1: If there are several branches at one side of the mandibular ramus at the same time,we add total numbers before the type and specific amount of subclass on the bottom right (e.g., 2IA, 3IA2B1). If the bifurcation point is exactly on the boundary of the body and ramus, we identify it as Type I.
*Note 2: If there are several branches, the number before the type represents the total amount, and the label at the top right shows the number of branches at the mandibular ramus; the label at the bottom right shows the number of branches at the mandibular body
Among the 350 patients in our study (120 males and 230 females), we found 110 patients with BMC, for an occurrence rate of 31.43%. Of these, 32 were males (26.67%) and 78 were females (33.91%) (
Yes | No | Amount | Incidence rate (%) | |
Male | 32 | 88 | 120 | 26.67 |
Female | 78 | 152 | 230 | 33.91 |
Amount | 110 | 240 | 350 | 31.43 |
Left | Right | Total | |
Male | 13 | 25 | 38 |
Female | 46 | 49 | 95 |
Total | 59 | 74 | 133 |
Unilateral | Bilateral | Total | |
Male | 31 | 7 | 38 |
Female | 78 | 17 | 95 |
Total | 109 | 24 | 133 |
Male | Female | Amount | Incidence rate (%) | ||
I | IA | 7 | 20 | 27 | 3.86 14.71 |
IB | 24 | 52 | 76 | 10.86 | |
II | 5 | 13 | 18 | 2.57 | |
III | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0.71 | |
IV | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1.00 | |
Amount | 38 | 95 | 133 | 19.00 |
In our study, we measured the distance between apex of that two molars and BMCs. The second and third molar are closely related to oral maxillofacial surgery and implant surgery. Besides, these two molars are adjoined with the spot we formulated. In
Vertical distance (mm) | Bifurcated site(mm) | Retromolar foramen(mm) | |
The second molar | 4.36±2.51 | 15.87±6.82 | 22.19±5.97 |
The third molar | 2.45±2.23 | 9.32±5.37 | 15.82±4.68 |
Details in
Methods | Basis of classification | Tool | Dimensions of image(2D/3D) | Category | Comprehensive coverage | Measured data | Incidence rate |
Nortje et al. | The height of the mandibular canal in the mandible. | Orthopantomography | 2D | 4 | Position | None | 46.7% (1685/3612)Male:48.9%Female:45.7% |
Langlais et al. | Unilateral bifurcation or bilateral and the relationship of convergence between bifurcation and the canal. | Orthopantomography | 2D | 4 | Unilateral or bilateral | none | Male:39%;Female: 61% |
Naitoh et al. | Directions of the canal. | CBCT | 3D | 4 | Direction | The length of BMC: I:14.8; II:8.9; III:8.6; IV:1.6 | 65% (125) |
In nowadays, the most commonly admitted definition of BMC is to find the triangular “osseous inland” which is formed by the intersection of two pipes in panoramic radiographs and the vertex of the triangle is the starting point of the bifurcation of the mandibular canal. As early as 1977, Nortje et al. classified BMC according to the position of the bifurcations in the mandibular body
At present, different scholars use different classification criteria which may result in many understandings of the classification methods and lead to inconsistent research results. Observers have different levels of understanding of the anatomical variation, and ignore to make the mutual verification of sagittal, coronal, and cross-section, all these can cause different results about the same image, even for the same classification criteria, various types of results may be inconsistent. Besides, the anatomical variations of the mandibular canal in different regions and different races may be inherently various. It may have relationship with congenital variations, lifestyle, chewing habit of some people. Further research is needed to verify whether these habits will lead to different occurrence rates of anatomical variation of mandibular canal.
At present, scholars use different classification criteria for BMC because of no consolidated standard, which may result in many inconsistent research results. Based on the explicitly defined the boundary of mandibular body and ramus, we made a reclassification of the BMC, and this improved method will help to guide future development of surgery. The classification can record the amount of multi-canal on one side, which is also more comprehensive and useful for other complicated situations. Also, we measured distances between root and inferior alveolar nerve canal and showed the sutures in detail, which can precisely guide surgical correction. Therefore, our method can supply a profound clinical significance for the mandible operation and it is easier for training and academic communication. Furthermore, we pointed a constant site and position for scholars to study BMC, which is stable for different population and more objective for measured data and clinical application.
Nevertheless, we only described the location, amount and other complicated conditions of the bifurcated mandibular canal. But our classification still has limitation in reflecting the general trend of the BMC and information about distance.
The inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia is very important for the dental extraction in our clinical operation. However, because of the improper operation and the BMC the success rate of block anesthesia of inferior alveolar nerve is 82%-91%
In our study, we pay attention to the precision measurement of distance between BMC to molar apical foramen. Our results showed that the average vertical distance from the second molar and third molar to BMC is only 4.36±2.51mm and 2.45±2.23mm. Meanwhile the bifurcated site to the root tips is less than 9mm. That means the blood supply and nerve distribution of molars were upper branch of BMC. This may explain why only a percentage of patients presented ineffective block anesthesia and bleeding even though they all have the same treatment. Therefore, we need to take a CBCT scan for further diagnose and to be gentle during extraction with the BMC patients in clinical practice.
Implants denture have been normally accepted by clinicians and patients for their excellent ability to restore occlusion and safety for the adjacent teeth. However, each doctor has to consider the trend of MC; otherwise, it will be injured when implant surgery occurs in the mandibular molar and the premolar region. The most important clinical implication of BMC in implantology is to attract the attention of the majority of doctor in implant work. During daily clinical work, most implanters focus on the damage to the mandibular canal rather than bifurcation at mandibular body. What's more,Accurate localisation of mandibular canals in lower jaws is important in dental implantology, in which the implant position and dimensions are currently determined manually from 3D CT images by medical experts to avoid damaging the mandibular nerve inside the canal
An important complication of sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and rigid internal fixation (RIF) of mandible fracture is damage to the inferior alveolar nerve and blood vessels. Using a surgical template for mandibular angle osteotomy can effectively reduce those injuries, thus improving the safety and effectiveness of the surgery, which requires an accurate preoperative osteotomy design and an accurate estimate of the path of the mandibular neural tube branches
In summary, we retrospectively studied the anatomical variation of the mandibular neural canal by CBCT and summed up a more comprehensive, simple, and practical classification for BMC, which can make clinical work and academic communication easier. The most common is Type I, especially Type IB, and the least is Type III. Finally, it is important for clinicians to identify this anatomical variation in extraction of mandibular third molar, block anesthesia of inferior alveolar nerve, mandibular molar implantation, and SSRO. Clinician should use CBCT to identify this structural variation in the risky area, which has important clinical implication for reducing complications.
This work has been supported by, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81800952), the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, China(2021JJ30987),Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department(2018SK51002).The authors deny any conflicts of interest.