Prevalence and Extent of Anterior Loop of the Mandibular Canal Using Cone Beam Computerized Tomography

• Published in: J. Islamic Int. Med. Coll. Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 243 - 247
• Main Author: Shoaib Rahim , Nighat Haroon Khan , Saira Bilal , Nadia Hanif , Uzma Habib , Fahad Haroon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Riphah International University, Islamabad 01.12.2021
• Subjects: cone beam, computerized tomography, mandible, mental foramen
• ISSN: 1815-4018; 2410-5422

Objectives: To determine the presence of mandibular canal anterior loop and its length in patients reporting to a tertiary care center using Computerized Cone Beam Tomography (CBCT). Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: Prosthodontics Dept., Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, From 1st February 2019 to 30th November 2019 Materials and Methods: A total of 126 subjects, between the age of 16-60 years, were selected using nonprobability consecutive sampling technique from Prosthodontics Department. Patients in whom CBCT investigation was required were selected based on exclusion and inclusion criteria. With the help of NNT viewer software presence of mandibular canal anterior loop determined. The Extent of anterior loop anteriorly into the mandible was analyzed using the measuring tool in the NNT viewer software. Results: Out of 126 patients, anterior loop was found in 19% (n=24) patients among which 7.1% (n=09) patients had on the left side and 3.9% (n=05) on the right side. A total of 7.9% (n=10) patients had anterior loop present bilaterally. The Mean ± SD extent of anterior loop on left and right side were 3.87 ± 0.88 and 3.96 ± 0.84 respectively. Conclusion: A low prevalence of mandibular canal anterior loop was observed in subjects of present study with variations in the extensions of anterior loop. CBCT imaging modality was found to be effective in the detection of anterior loop.