Prevalence, Radiographic Features and Clinical Relevancy of Accessory Canals of the Canalis Sinuosus in Cypriot Population: A Retrospective Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Study

Background and Objectives: This retrospective study aims to evaluate the prevalence, radiographic features, and clinical relevancy of the accessory canals (AC) of the canalis sinuosus (CS) in patients referred for implant surgery. Materials and Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of the patients were collected and ACs were evaluated. Age, sex, bilateral distribution, localization, diameter, distance to the buccal cortical plate, distance to the crest of the alveolar ridge, terminal ending localization, and the presence of tooth or implant were recorded. Ninety-one patients who were eligible for this study were enrolled. Results: A total of 188 ACs were found in 91 patients with 86 bilateral and 5 unilateral distributions. The mean age of the patients was 45.39. All ACs had a terminal ending at the palatal cortical border. All parameters showed a non-normal distribution; thus, the Mann-Whitney U test was preferred. Bilateral AC distribution (p = 0.761), AC distance to the crest of the alveolar ridge (p = 0.614), AC distance to the buccal cortical plate (p = 0.105), and AC diameter (p = 0.423) showed no significant difference between females and males. According to our study, a CS might be an anatomical structure rather than an anatomical variation, as all patients had at least one AC of the CS. It can be inferred that the detection of ACs will be achievable once clinicians are aware of these structures with continuous regular anatomy reworks and with small voxel-sized CBCT devices. Conclusion: This study was conducted to find the features and prevalence of the CS, and it was found that the CS is an anatomical structure rather than an anatomical variation. This argument is in line with the information on the CS in Gray's Anatomy, 42nd Edition. Impaired healings and complications of the CS can be avoided if clinicians follow the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology guidelines regarding pre-operative implant examination. Otherwise, avertible complications may cause significant impairments in quality of life.