Prevalence of bifid and trifid mandibular canal by panoramic radiograph at RSGM Unsyiah Banda Aceh: data from April 2012 to March 2017

Abstract

The mandibular canal bifid and trifid are variations of the mandibular canal. This variation of the
mandibular canal is essential to recognize in surgical procedures involving mandibles, such as extraction of
impacted third molars, dental implant treatment, and sagittal split ramus osteotomy. The purpose of this study was
to determine the prevalence of bifid and trifid mandibular canal by panoramic radiograph at RSGM Unsyiah Banda
Aceh. This research method is descriptive by collecting secondary data in the form of panoramic images from
patients visiting RSGM Unsyiah Banda Aceh for April 2012-March 2017. A total of 2,478 panoramic radiograph
photos collected showed the bifid mandibular canal is 1.25%. Based on sex, 21 photos (67.74%) of the bifid
mandibular canal cases in women and ten photos (32.26%) in men. Based on the position of the bifid mandibular
canal, 9 images (29.03%) unilateral/ right-sided, 15 photos (48.39%) were unilateral/left side, and seven photos
(22.58%) bilateral.
KEYWORDS: bifid mandibular canal, panoramic, prevalence, trifid mandibular canal