EVALUATION OF INFERIOR DENTAL CANAL VISIBILITY ON CROSS-SECTIONAL CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CBCT) IMAGES

Objectives: This current study was aimed to evaluate visibility of inferior dental canal at various regions of mandible on CBCT cross sectional films. Methods: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery de’Montmorency College of Dentistry/Punjab dental hospital Lahore, March 2023 to January 2024. CBCT cross sectional films of 36 cases (72 hemi mandibles) and 108 slices were evaluated by a qualified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and a certified Radiologist. The visibility of IDC was denoted by not visible, partially visible and completely visible. Results: The IDC was completely visible in 77.7% of the hemi-mandibles. Partially visible were noted in 20.37% of the hemi-mandibles and 1.85% of hemi mandibles IDC was noted not visible. The visibility of the IDC on distal areas of mandible was comparatively clearer than anterior part of mandible. Visibility of IDC was unaffected by presence or absence of teeth. Conclusion: CBCT provides a quite good source to visualize Inferior Dental Canal in majority of cases. However, IDC is difficult to visualize coming near the mental foramen. Overall CBCT films are satisfactory to visualize IDC in mandible.