MORPHOLOGIC VARIATIONS OF THE INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE CANAL THROUGH THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

<h3>BACKGROUND</h3> The Inferior alveolar nerve is the main nerve supply to the mandible, and its location and position related to the surrounding structures are critical during surgical procedures. The introduction of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with low radiation dose and high resolution has improved the anatomic visualization of the canal. <h3>OBJECTIVE(S)</h3> The aim of this study was to investigate the morphologic variations of the inferior alveolar canal in 10 CBCT data sets through 3D computed tomography assessment. <h3>STUDY DESIGN</h3> Ten CBCT scans were randomly selected from the archived cases database of the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department at The University of Iowa. Institutional review board approval was obtained. The inclusion criteria consisted of visualization of the complete inferior alveolar canal and the third molar bilaterally, no pathosis associated with the mandible, and no motion or metallic artifacts that might affect the image quality. The distance between 10 fixed anatomic landmarks (lingula, sigmoid notch, angle of mandible, mental foramen, buccal cortex of the mandible, symphysis, mandibular foramen, posterior surface of the most distal molar, condyle, and inferior border of the mandible) were measured and the length and angulation of the inferior alveolar canal were measured. All measurements were performed by an OMR twice with at least 1 week between measurements. <h3>RESULTS</h3> There were variations in the inferior alveolar canal length and angulation between the right and left sides of the mandible. The right mental foramen was located slightly posteriorly from the symphysis compared with the left side. The mandibular canal was around 30 mm away from the distal aspect of the presented molars on the both sides. <h3>DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS</h3> Three-dimensional imaging obtained from CBCT scans provides comprehensive knowledge of the anatomic location and the course of the canal within the mandible.