Radiographic Evaluation of Nasopalatine and Infraorbital Canals in Geriatric Patients

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the morphologies of the nasopalatine canal (NPC) and infraorbital canal (IOC) in elderly patients using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to analyze their relationships with aging, gender, dental status, and maxillary sinus mucosal thickening.Material and MethodCBCT data from 250 geriatric patients over 65 years of age were retrospectively analyzed. NPC was examined in the sagittal plane, and IOC in the coronal plane. Patients with a history of trauma, pathology, or surgery in the maxillary bone were excluded from the study. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate the distribution of categorical differences between groups, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsBased on their position on the maxillary sinus wall in the coronal plane, IOCs were observed as 47.2 % (right and left) type 1, 48.4 % type 2, and 4.4 % type 3. NPC morphology evaluated in the sagittal plane was found to be 54% cylindrical, 23.2 % conical, 8.4 % hourglass-shaped, 6.4 % tree branch-shaped, 6 % banana-shaped, and 5.6 % funnel-shaped. A significant correlation was observed between NPC morphology and gender, and between IOC type and age (p < 0.05).ConclusionAge-related osteoporosis, progressive alveolar bone resorption, and edentulism can alter maxillary morphology and size. Clinicians should be aware of and consider these variations to prevent potential complications during anesthesia and surgical procedures in geriatric patients.