Frequency and Configuration of Bifid Mandibular Canal Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A Cross-Sectional Study at Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar

The bifid mandibular canal is a common variation in the lower jaw. It has important effects during oral surgery. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) helps to see these canals clearly. It also helps in finding and classifying them correctly. Objectives: To find out how often bifid mandibular canals are seen in patients using CBCT at Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department. It took place at Khyber College of Dentistry from April to September 2023. A total of 141 CBCT scans were studied (81 male, 60 female). The scans were analyzed using Planmeca Romexis ProMax 3D Mid software [3]. Naitoh’s system was used to classify the canals. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 by age, gender, and side. Results: Out of 141 patients, 33 (23.41%) had bifid canals. On the right side, 9.93% showed this feature. On the left side, 9.22% showed it. On both sides, 4.26% had it. The retromolar canal was the most common type (36%). Next came the forward canal (24%), buccolingual canal (21%), and dental canal (18%). Conclusion: The study showed a 23.41% rate of bifid canals. The retromolar canal was most frequent. No clear link was found between gender or age. CBCT is advised to detect these variations early. This helps avoid problems during surgery.