Canalis sinuosus: anatomical variation or structure?

Purpose The main goal of the present study was to verify the presence, spatial location, the end of the canalis sinuosus (CS) trajectory and size of CS using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to characterise it as either a structure or an anatomical variation. Methods A trained examiner specialist in dental radiology and imagenology selected 200 CBCT images of the maxilla from 107 (53.5%) female and 93 (46.5%) male individuals aged between 18 and 85 years. Results A total of 133 (66.5%) patients had CS, being 61 (45.86%) unilateral and 72 (54.14%) bilateral. A higher frequency of CS was observed in males ( P 0.05%). Conclusion As CS was frequently found in our sample, it can be considered an anatomical structure, and as such, it is fundamental that the dentist requests a CBCT examination before performing any invasive procedure in the maxillary region to preserve this important structure.