The study aimed to investigate the incidence, type, shape, and location of anatomical variations in the maxilla and mandible in patients planned for orthognathic surgery and to correlate these variations with factors. This retrospective study included 235 adult patients (aged 18–50 years) who underwent CBCT imaging prior to orthognathic surgery. The study population consisted of 64 patients (27.2%) with Class I malocclusion, 58 patients (24.7%) with Class II malocclusion, and 113 patients (48.1%) with Class III malocclusion. The posterior superior alveolar artery (PSAA), canalis sinuosus (CS), and nasopalatine canal (NPC) in the maxilla, the mental foramen (MF), mandibular incisive canal, and lingual foramen in the mandible were evaluated.
PSAA was most commonly observed with an intraosseous course in the posterior region of the maxillary sinus. The most frequent location of CS was the canine tooth region. NPC was most commonly funnel-shaped (53.2%). The localization of CS in the canine tooth region was significantly more prevalent in individuals with Class II malocclusion than in the other malocclusion groups (p = 0.04). An accessory MF was observed in 7.2% of the patients. In patients with Class II malocclusion, a round-shaped MF was significantly more common than in the other malocclusion groups (p < 0.0001). The concurrent presence of CS, the mandibular incisive canal, and an accessory lingual foramen in the same patient was significantly more frequent in patients with Class III malocclusion than in those with Class I and Class II malocclusion (p < 0.05). It is essential to perform a detailed three-dimensional radiographic analysis prior to orthognathic surgery to reduce the risk of serious complications arising from anatomical variations.
