Incidence of nutrient canals in hypertensive patients: A radiographic study

OBJECTIVES: To determine if any correlation exists in the presence of nutrient canals in hypertensive patients and nonhypertensive patients, to compare the incidence of nutrient canals in different age groups, and also to compare the incidence of nutrient canals between dentulous and edentulous patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out on patients, who were divided into a control group comprising of healthy individuals, without history of hypertension and a study group of patients with the history of hypertension. The necessary information like age of the patient, presence or absence of hypertension, its duration, and blood pressure were recorded. An intraoral periapical radiograph of lower anterior region was made using bisecting angle technique and was interpreted. The presence or absence of nutrient canals, bone loss, and the levels of bone loss were recorded. The results so obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: We found that the incidence of nutrient canals was statistically higher in the study group (55.2%) as compared to the control group (36.2%). The incidence of nutrient canals was also found to be increased with, the age till 60 years, amount of alveolar bone loss and in edentulous patients. CONCLUSION: Hypertension being one of the most commonly encountered medical problems in dental practice and many cases being undiagnosed, the presence of nutrient canal though not entirely indicative of hypertension, should increase the suspicion of the condition to be investigated further.