Microanatomy of the incisive canal using three-dimensional reconstruction of microCT images: an ex vivo study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the general structure of the incisive canal (IC) using 3-dimensional reconstruction and to classify into various types according to several criteria.The materials used in the study were 56 anterior maxillae harvested from human cadavers. The specimens were scanned with microscopic computerized tomography (microCT), and the resulting microCT images were reconstructed in 3 dimensions.Many ICs had 1 foramen inferiorly and 2 foramina superiorly, and the separating level was just beneath the nasal floor. The middle part of the IC was not always a single hollow canal. Single-channel, 2-channel, 3-channel, and even 4-channel ICs were observed. The ICs were classified into 4 types according to the lateral shape of the canal: vertical-straight, vertical-curved, slanted-straight, and slanted-curved.This study disclosed the detailed morphologic features of the IC, which will be helpful in the placement of local anesthesia or implants.