An Intraoral Periapical Radiographic Study of Mandibular Nutrient Canals with Conventional and Digital Radiography

Background: Hypertension is one of the most common medical problems seen in our dental profession. Nutrient canals are spaces in bones and are considered to be channels that transmit blood vessels and nerves. They are observed more frequently in the mandibular anterior region as radiolucent lines in intraoral periapical radiographs. The radiographically observable nutrient canals have been shown to have an association with various systemic diseases like hypertension. This can be used as an evidence for the detection of hypertensive patients for better diagnosis and treatment decisions. Aim and objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate if any correlation exists between nutrient canals and hypertension. Materials and methods: Two hundred patients with hypertension for 1 to 10 years (groups I and II) and 100 age matched controls (group III) were included in the study. The prevalence of nutrient canals in all the groups and with reference to age and gender was observed along with the comparison between intraoral conventional and digital radiography.