Published Paper Details:

Background: Diagnostic radiography in dentistry not only aids in the detection of local dental pathologies but may also reveal subtle osseous changes associated with systemic diseases. Nutrient canals (NCs), seen as linear radiolucencies in the mandibular anterior region on intraoral periapical radiographs (IOPARs), have been suggested as possible indicators of systemic vascular alterations, particularly hypertension. Aim: To compare the incidence of nutrient canals in hypertensive and non-hypertensive individuals and to assess their association with age, gender, severity, and duration of hypertension. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational comparative study was conducted on 300 subjects aged 30-70 years. The study group comprised 150 diagnosed hypertensive patients, and the control group included 150 healthy non-hypertensive individuals. Blood pressure was recorded using the auscultatory method, and IOPARs of the mandibular anterior region were obtained. Presence of nutrient canals was evaluated and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21. Chi-square test was applied, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Nutrient canals were observed in 81.3% of hypertensive patients compared to 12% of non-hypertensive subjects, showing a highly significant difference (p < 0.001). A significant association was noted with age and duration of hypertension, while gender showed no significant influence. Conclusion: Increased visibility of nutrient canals on IOPARs is significantly associated with hypertension and may serve as an adjunctive radiographic marker for early detection of this systemic condition.