Assessment of accessory canals of the canalis sinuosus: a study of 1000 cone beam computed tomography examinations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify the presence, spatial location, and calibre of the accessory canals (AC) of the canalis sinuosus by cone beam computed tomography, and their relationship to the anterior maxilla. This retrospective analysis included the scans of 1000 subjects. Parameters registered were sex, age, number of AC, presence or absence of AC with a diameter <1.0mm, AC diameter (only for AC with a diameter >1.0mm), and AC location in relation to the adjacent teeth. Males showed a statistically higher frequency of AC than females. The difference in age distribution was not statistically significant. Twenty percent of all AC presented a diameter of a least 1.0mm. The end of the AC trajectory was most frequently located palatal to the anterior maxillary teeth. All relationships analyzed here were very weak (age vs. number of AC, age vs. AC diameter, number of AC vs. sex). Overall, the results of this study showed that AC of the canalis sinuosus are a common anatomical structure in the anterior maxilla, regardless of age and sex.

An anatomical variant: evaluation of accessory canals of the canalis sinuosus using cone beam computed tomography

“…According to literature, although there was a slight tendency to seeing more ACs in males than in females [8,16,18] but no statistically significant differences in presence of AC between genders was revealed. Although de Oliveira Santos et al [2] reported that they found 15 females against 13 males with accessory bony canal but they also mentioned that they did not reveal any statistical differences.…”

“…However, it should be noticed that among the studies found in PubMed, their study sample was the smallest. The study which assessed 1000 CBCT scans by Machado et al [8] is one of the study with the largest sample size. They found the frequency of 52.1%.…”

“…The dental implant placements as well as several surgical procedures such as orthognathic surgery, supernumerary or impacted teeth removal operations, cyst or tumour operations, endodontic and periodontal surgery are frequently performed in the anterior maxilla [8,16]. Nasal fossa, nasopalatine canal and incisive foramen are not the only structures that should be considered, but also some important neurovascular structures.…”

Anatomical Variation of Canalis Sinuosus: Reports of Two Cases

“…In another study, Machado et al [9] reported that the accessory canals of the CS were observed relatively high incidence (52.1%) and they concluded that accessory canals of the CS are a common anatomical structure.…”

“…Machado et al [9] reported a clinical case who was installed dental implants in the anterior region of the maxilla and presented postoperative pain and the postoperative CBCT showed a close relationship of the implants with the accessory canal of the CS. Moreover, Arruda et al [10] reported a case with notified paresthesia and pain in the right upper lip region after the installation of a dental implant.…”