Evaluation of the mandibular canal course in Southeast Serbian population: A cone beam computed tomography study

<p style="text-align: justify;">Oral surgical interventions in the mandibular region require detailed knowledge of the position and course of the mandibular canal. The aim of this study was to determine the most common course of mandibular canal on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in the population of Southeast Serbia. One hundred ninety-four mandibular canals on CBCT images of 97 patients (48 male and 49 female) aged 18-65 years were analyzed in the study. According to Worthington, courses of mandibular canals are classified into catenary, descending, and straight. The obtained results were analyzed in relation to the gender and the age of the patients as well as to the left and right side of the mandible. The most common course of mandibular canal on the analyzed images was catenary (41.2%), then straight (37.1%), while the least was descending (21.6%). The most common type in males was the catenary (46.9%), while the straight type was the most common in females (39.6%). Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in the distribution of the mandibular canal course in relation to the gender, age of the patients, and the side of the mandible. The observed variations emphasize the importance of careful individual preoperative analysis of CBCT images of each patient as well as planning different treatment modalities in the region of the mandible.</p>