Anterior Loop Research Articles

Evaluation of the Dimensions of Anterior Loop of Mental Nerve in CBCT: A Radiographic Analysis.

Information on the dimensions of the anterior loop of mental nerve is important for dental implant placement. The purpose of this study was to determine the total length of anterior loop of mental nerve from the mental foramen. CBCT data of 150 patients were evaluated. We found that the anterior loop was absent in 56.4% of patients on the left side and 61.7% patients on the right side. 19.5% of the total patients (29 patients) had up to 4mm length of the loop which was exactly same on both right and left sides. The remaining 16.8% on the left side (25 patients) and 14.1% on the right side (21 patients) had the length of the loop ranging between 4.1 and 8mm. The rest 7.4% of patients on the left side and 4.7% patients on the right side had more than 8mm of the loop length. Based on this study, the dimensions of the anterior loop are variable and hold great significance in dental implant planning in the mandibular premolar region.

Cone-beam CT assessment of implant-related anatomy landmarks of the anterior mandible in a Chinese population.

To investigate the prevalence, location, and morphology of the mandibular lingual foramen (MLF), mandibular incisive canal (MIC), and anterior loop of the inferior alveolar canal (ALC) in a Chinese population using cone-beam CT (CBCT). From 2014 to 2016, CBCT images from patients with various scanning purposes were obtained from the database of the Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Kunming Medical University, China. Imaging analyses of the MLF, MIC, and ALC were performed via the NNT viewer software. The prevalence, location, length, classification of MLF, and its distances to the alveolar crest and the lower border of mandible were investigated, and the prevalence and length of MIC and the prevalence of ALC were also studied. This study examined 1008 subjects, 521 (51.7%) males, and 487 (48.3%) females. 916 (90.9%) subjects showed the medial lingual foramina (LF), a single medial LF with the supraspinous-type predominating. Lateral LF were observed in 547 (54.3%) subjects mostly located in the premolar areas. 876 (86.9%) subjects had the MIC on the left side, whereas 877 (87.0%) had the MIC on the right side. The ALC was present in 147 (14.6%) subjects. This study showed a high prevalence of LF and MIC in the Southwest Chinese population. Therefore, caution should be taken during the implant treatment at the anterior mandible region.

Cone beam computed tomography study on the relation between mental foramen and roots of mandibular teeth, presence of anterior loop and satellite foramina

To investigate the position of the mental foramen based on its relation with the roots of the mandibular teeth and quantify the prevalence of anterior loop and satellite foramina in the mandible in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. The sample consisted of 400 CBCT scans of males (n=190) and females (n=210) from Moscow, Russia. Using the system proposed by Tebo and Telford (1950), the position of the mental foramen was classified into: I) mesial to the mandibular first premolar; II) at the apex of the mandibular first premolar; III) between the roots of the mandibular first and second premolars; IV) at the apex of the mandibular second premolar; V) between the roots of the mandibular second premolar and first molar; and VI) at the apex of the roots of the mandibular first molar. Additionally, the images were assessed to investigate the prevalence of the anterior loop of the mandibular canal and the presence of satellite foramina. Mental foramen position class III was the most prevalent (61%) followed by class IV (27%), II (8%), I, V and VI (together <4%). Statistically significant differences were not detected between males and females (P<0.05). In Russian males and females, the anterior loop of the mandibular canal was found in 15.78% and 3%, respectively; while satellite foramina were found in 31.58% and 19.62%, respectively. The spatial position of the mental foramen and the morphological alterations of the mandibular canal and adjacent foramina must be known prior to surgical interventions in the mandible.

Transnasal stent-assisted targeting technique for percutaneous jejunostomy placement in patients with hiatal hernias.

To report the transnasal stent-assisted targeting technique for percutaneous jejunostomy placement in patients with hiatal hernias. Four patients, including three (75%) females and one (25%) male, with mean age of 77.5years (range 73-78years), and with a hiatal hernia and intrathoracic stomach precluding gastrostomy placement and loop snare placement into the mid-jejunum underwent the transnasal stent-assisted targeting technique for percutaneous jejunostomy placement. In all patients, a duodenal stent was inserted into the jejunum in a transnasal fashion. The stent was partially unsheathed in an anterior loop of jejunum and percutaneously targeted using an 18-gauge needle through which a guidewire was advanced, trapped within the stent, and removed through the nose. The tract was serially dilated and a jejunostomy was placed. Technical success, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, radiation exposure, complications, time to enteral feeding, and follow-up were recorded. Technical success was 100% (4/4) with all four patients requiring only one needle pass before successful jejunal cannulation. Mean procedure time was 108min. Mean fluoroscopy time was 44min. Mean dose area product was 3969.3 μGym2. No minor or major complications occurred. All four patients received enteral feeding oneday after the procedure. Mean follow-up was 366days. The transnasal stent-assisted targeting technique is a novel method for primary jejunostomy placement in patients with hiatal hernias.

Momentousness of the Mental Loop: A Comparative Study.

Background and Purpose:To assess the anterior (aAL) and caudal (cAL) extensions of Anterior loop (AL) of Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) using Digital Panoramic (DP) and Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) for its presence and dimensions in various age groups, genders, right and left sides of the mandible and between dentulous and edentulous patients.Methods:A 1-year retrospective comparative study between DP and CBCT to assess the extensions of AL of IAN was conducted on individuals referred to a private imaging center located in Bengaluru, South India. 360 mandibular sites were examined using DP and CBCT to assess the presence and dimensions of AL.Results:Results showed higher frequency of AL in CBCT compared to DP. Also there was a decreasing frequency of AL with increasing age and an insignificant difference in frequency between males and females. Bilateral looping was most common, aAL was more frequent on the left side and cAL on the right of the mandible. Statistically higher frequency in dentate group compared to edentulous. A decreasing mean value with increasing age and higher mean values in CBCT than DP. No significant difference in mean values among males and females or between the dentulous and edentulous groups. Higher mean values in CBCT compared to DP on the left side of the mandible compared to the right.Conclusion:Choosing mental foramen as reference for termination of IAN could result in injury to AL; low sensitivity and specificity of DP compared to CBCT in assessing frequency and extent of AL underlines its inadequacy, while CBCT can be performed with comparable resolution, to accurately analyze AL.

Assessment of the Anterior Loop of the Mandibular Canal Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in Eastern India: A Record-Based Study.

Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the presence and course of the anterior loop (AL) in an Odisha sample population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to accurately identify and analyze the length, height, and diameter of AL in male and females.Materials and Methods:CBCT images from 1000 patients obtained for various clinical indications were randomly selected and evaluated to determine the presence, length, height, and diameter of the AL. The various parameters were then compared based on gender, age, and the side of the mandible. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, independent t-test, multiple post hoc procedure, and one-way ANOVA test.Results:An AL was identified in 9.7% of the cases, and its mean length ranged from 1.8 to 4.8 mm. The loop had a greater mean length and was significantly more prevalent in males. The diameter ranged from 1 to 4 mm and height ranged from 7.8 to 15.1 mm. The AL was most commonly found in the middle-aged patients (39–48 years) which attributed to around 27.83%.Conclusion:In this study, a lower prevalence of the AL of the mandibular canal was found. Being an anatomical variation, an exact evaluation of the AL must be established using the imaging techniques prior to any surgical procedure.

Evaluation of morphometric variations in mental foramen and prevalence of anterior loop in South Indian population – A CBCT study

Introduction: The mental foramen (MF) opens on the lateral aspect of the mandible near premolar region on both sides of the mandible. The portion of inferior alveolar nerve present anterior to the MF, prior to exiting the canal, is referred to as the anterior loop (AL) of the inferior alveolar nerve. These anatomical variations cannot be evaluated by conventional imaging techniques. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides three-dimensional reliable images of maxilla–mandibular region. Hence, it plays an important role to detect and evaluate these anatomical variations and to prevent intra- and postoperative complications. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study includes 500 CBCT images of the mandible. The average size, location, shape of MF, and presence of AL were assessed in sagittal, tangential, and axial sections. Results: Out of 250 CBCT scans analyzed, 132 scans (52.8%) were of males and 118 scans (47.2%) belonged to females. The mean size of MF as measured in the sagittal sections was found to be 3.36 mm in height and 2.54 mm in length. The most common position for the MF related to the mandibular teeth in this study was between first and second premolars in 310 CBCT images (62%). A majority of the MF were oval in shape (n = 346, 69.2%) followed by round shape (n = 154, 30.8%). The presence of AL of inferior alveolar nerve was found in only 20% (n = 100) of cases in this study. Conclusion: Considering these variations in MF and AL, the use of CBCT seems necessary for better evaluation and treatment planning.

Prevalence and Length of Anterior Loop of Inferior Alveolar Nerve

Background: Interforaminal region of mandible is often related to neurovascular complications during surgical procedures such as implant placement and during harvesting bone graft. This is due to anatomic variations such as the anterior looping of inferior alveolar nerve and the lingual vessels. Cone Beam Computed tomography (CBCT) is an imaging modality with which such anatomical variants can be visualized and necessary modifications can be made during pre – surgical phase of implant placement. This study aims at identifying the prevalence and the length of anterior loop of inferior alveolar nerve using CBCT. Materials and Method: 50 patients scanned using Sirona Orthophos XG device for the purpose of implant placement were included in this retrospective study. Using the device’s software, the inferior alveolar nerve was traced and marked in each included CBCT volume. The length of the anterior loop was measured with AutoCAD 2018 software using the reconstructed 3D model of the scan. Results: Of the 50 selected CBCT volumes, 33 volumes had anterior looping of inferior alveolar nerve. The mean length of the loop observed in the selected patients was 0.42 ± 0.40 mm on the left side and 0.42 ± 0.31 mm on the right side. For males, the mean length of the loop was 0.42 mm on the left side and 0.42 mm on the right side. For females, the mean length was 0.40mm on the left side and 0.45mm on the right side. Conclusion: The anterior loop of inferior alveolar nerve is quite common in south Indian population. The looping has to be assessed before implant placement in the anterior mandibular region so as to identify and prevent neurovascular complications.

Anterior Loop Presence and Extension Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Anterior Loop Presence and Extension Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Three-dimensional analysis of the anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve in relation to the growth pattern of the mandibular functional subunit

BackgroundThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the differences in the position and shape of the anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve (ALIAN) in relation to the growth pattern of the mandibular functional subunit.MethodsThe study was conducted on 56 patients among those who had undergone orthognathic surgery at the Gangnam Severance Hospital between January 2010 and December 2015. Preoperative computerized tomography (CT) images were analyzed using the Simplant OMS software (ver.14.0 Materialise Medical, Leuven, Belgium). The anterior and inferior lengths of ALIAN (dAnt and dInf) and each length of the mandibular functional subunits were measured. The relationship between dAnt, dInf, and the growth pattern of the mandibular subunits was analyzed.ResultsThe length of the anterior portion of ALIAN (dAnt) reached 3.34 ± 1.59 mm in prognathism and 1.00 ± 0.97 mm in retrognathism. The length of the inferior portion of ALIAN (dInf) reached 6.81 ± 1.33 mm in prognathism and 5.56 ± 1.34 mm in retrognathism. The analysis of Pearson’s correlation coefficiency on all samples showed that the lengths of functional subunits were positively correlated with the loop depth. The length of the symphysis area in prognathic patients was positively correlated with the anterior loop depth (p = 0.005).ConclusionsBoth the anterior and inferior length of ALIAN are longer in prognathic patients. Especially, it seems to be associated with the growth of the symphysis area.

Identifying Past Remains of Morphologically Similar Vole Species Using Molar Shapes

Accurate species identification in fossil remains is a complex task but is a key component for developing good inferences on many, if not all, fundamental questions in macroecology and macroevolution. In the Quaternary, arvicolines are very abundant remains in archeological and paleontological sites in Western Europe and their identification is often based on the first lower molar. The common vole Microtus arvalis (Pallas, 1778) and the field vole Microtus agrestis (Linnaeus, 1761) are commonly found in those deposits. These two species are genetically and ecologically divergent. Nonetheless, their lower molars, on which species identification is done, exhibit a large morphological variation that can potentially lead to some confusion and misinterpretation. Moreover, molecular data suggest that present-day M. agrestis populations are a complex of divergent lineages, some of them being recognized nowadays as valid species. On the basis of extant populations representing a large part of the present-day geographical distribution of these two species, we developed a classification model based on geometric morphometrics of the first lower molar. Our statistical model was then applied on four fossil sites selected to evaluate the relevance of taxonomic determination found in species lists. The model using landmarks describing the overall shape of the first lower molar classifies the two species with the smallest prediction error together with very high individual posterior probabilities. The obtained classification is much better than those arising from shapes of any specific molar part such as the anterior loop, asymmetry or peculiar triangle shape. Discrepancies with expert classification on fossils suggest that existing faunal lists should always be considered cautiously for these two species. Our morphometric model provides a first step towards a rationalized way of revising past collections and expertise for future small mammal assemblages. It will thus help us better understand the paleobiogeographical expansion of these two key species in Quaternary faunas.

Association between the Anatomy of the Mandibular Canal and Facial Types: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Analysis.

We evaluated the anatomical variations of the mandibular canal associated with various facial types, age, sex, and side of the face studied. We analyzed 348 hemimandibles in subjects without a history of trauma, lesions in the lower arch, or orthognathic or repair surgery in the posterior mandible. Facial type was determined using the VERT index. The canal path was classified as Type 1 (a large, single structure passing very close to the root tips); Type 2 (a canal passing closest to the mandibular base); and Type 3 (a canal present in the posterior mandibular region, with a lower canal running through the mandibular branch, reaching the anterior region). Bifid canals (type 3) were classified into four categories according to the course and number of mandibular canals. The brachyfacial and mesofacial types presented a Type 1 canal in 95.5% (n=166) of subjects, in dolichofacial types, 68.2% (n=45) presented a Type 2 canal, while in the mesofacial type, a lower prevalence of the bifid mandibular canal was observed (13.0%, n=23) than in the other facial types. The bifid canal showed significant association with facial type only (p < 0.05), but no significant association was observed with the anterior loop type (p > 0.05). Facial type is significantly associated with the path and morphological variations of the mandibular canal, independently of the side of the face studied, age, and sex.

Location of the course of the mandibular canal, anterior loop and accessory mental foramen through cone-beam computed tomography.

This study aimed at identifying the course of the mandibular canal, the presence of anterior loop and accessory mental foramen, as well as verifying the association between these variables through the analysis of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) exams. CBCT images were analyzed to identify the type of mandibular canal path, classified into three types: (I) catenary; (II) progressive descending; and (III) straight. In addition, the presence of anterior loop and accessory mental foramen was analyzed. The variables were summarized by measures of absolute frequency, relative, mean and standard deviation. The Chi square and Fisher's exact tests were used in the comparative analysis of the frequency distribution. The level of significance was 5%. The most frequent mandibular canal course was straight type (74.4%), followed by catenary (19.4%) and finally the progressive descending (6.2%). It was observed a prevalence of 10.2% for anterior loop and 7.9% for accessory mental foramen. There was no association between the presence of anterior loop (P = 0.798) and accessory mental foramen (P 0.480) with the mandibular canal course pattern, as well as no association between the anterior loop and the presence of the accessory mental foramen (P = 0.407). The CBCT analysis is the best methodology for the investigation and localization of mandibular anatomical variations, which provides a good image quality of the bone tissue and details of the anatomical structures, reducing the risk of injury to the lower alveolar vascular-nervous bundle and, consequently, cause paralysis and hemorrhage in the anterior region of the mandible and adjacent structures.

Analysis of the frequency of visualization of morphological variations in anatomical bone features in the mandibular interforaminal region through cone-beam computed tomography.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency of visualization of anatomical bone features and their possible variations in the mandibular interforaminal region through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated CBCT scans of the mandible of 141 women and 61 men, obtained by imaging archives from two private clinics of dental radiology. The study analyzed the frequency of visualization of: lingual symphyseal foramen (LSF), additional mental foramen (AdMF), absence of mental foramen (AbMF), mandibular incisive canal (MIC), and anterior loop (AL). Length measurements for MIC and AL were determined at first and following that the respective distances towards vestibular and lingual cortical walls were also individually verified. Statistical analyses included: Student's t test, Chi-square test, and ANOVA for the evaluation of the anatomical features observed through panoramic and parasagittal images' reconstructions. LSF presence was found in 97%, MIC in 75.9%, AL in 24%, AdMF in 4.7%, and AbMF in 2.5%. Chi-square tests demonstrated value results of p < 0.05 only for the presence of left AL in women when compared to men. Mean values for length measures of MIC and AL were of 10.1 and 2.12mm, respectively. Mean distance from AL towards vestibular and lingual cortical walls was of 2.53 and 4.05mm, respectively. Anatomical variability concerning the mandibular interforaminal region emphasizes the importance of performing CBCT in pre-operative assessment of the mandible for surgical procedures with oral implants.

Available bone morphology and status of neural structures in the mandibular interforaminal region: three-dimensional analysis of anatomical structures.

This study aimed to clarify the size and morphology of the mandible and to determine state of neural structures for the planning of the dental implantation using cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT). Of the 252 patients, CBCT images of 48 selected patients were evaluated. The bone height and width were measured and the type of the mental portion of the inferior alveolar canal, the anterior loop length (ALL), the location of the incisive canal and lingual foramen were identified with cross-sectional and multiplane reformatted CBCT images. According to buccal and lingual concavities, the shape of the mandible is classified as type A, B and C. Bone widths of males were significantly higher than female (p < 0.05). The thickest part of the alveolar bone was measured in the middle triple zone (d line) and the thinnest part was measured in the area near the alveolar crest (b line). The most seen type of mandible was type B (45.8%) that mandible was concave on the buccal side. Bone heights had a tendency to increase towards to the anterior mandible, and bone height in male patients was slightly but not significantly greater than that in female patients. ALL was 4.2 ± 1.2mm and visible incisive canal length on CBCT was 9.7 ± 3.8mm. CBCT assessment of morphological features of the alveolar bone and locations of nerve canals and foramina in the anterior-premolar region of mandible represent useful practical anatomical information about the interforaminal region. This information is the guide to the dentist before implant surgery.

Prevalence and measurement of anterior loop of the mandibular canal using CBCT: A cross sectional study.

Anterior loop of the mental nerve is a very important anatomic landmark in implant placement and anterior mandibular osteotomies. Two-dimensional imaging techniques are not competent enough to locate and measure the mental nerve loop in majority of the cases. Any injury to this loop results in pain/paresthesia/numbness in the region supplied by the mental nerve. The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence and measure the length of the loop using cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) and calculate the average length and prevalence so that a safe margin can be given while placing the implants or the osteotomy cuts in the premolar region. A cross-sectional study was done using CBCT images of 85 patients taken for impaction surgery. The length of the loop was measured in mm using standardized lines drawn along specific anatomic landmarks. In our study 11.76% of patients had anterior loop in their mental nerve. Mean length of the mental nerve loop was calculated and found to be 2.79 mm. A margin of 4 mm anterior to the mental foramen should be safe to avoid any damage to the mental nerve loop bundle in majority of the cases where the loop is present.

Measuring anterior loop length of the inferior alveolar nerve to estimate safe zone in implant planning: A CBCT study in a Malaysian population

Statement of problemThe inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) frequently loops backward before exiting from the mental foramen and spreads several millimeters medially to the foramen. Implant placement in this area may damage the nerve if the anterior loop area is not carefully identified in a radiographic or computed tomography (CT) evaluation. PurposeThe purpose of this observational study was to measure the prevalence of the presence of the anterior loop and to estimate sex and ethnicity-related variations in anterior loop length in the Malaysian population. Material and methodsA total of 100 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) files were selected from a pool of 810 ongoing or completed patients in 3 different ethnic groups: Malay (33), Indian (33), and Chinese (34). The DICOM data were imported into commercial software. The IAN was traced with software along with the anterior loop and part of the incisive nerve. The vertical length of the nerve was estimated from the canal to the opening of the mental foramen from the cross-sectional view and translated to the panoramic view. Measurement was made from this point to the most anterior point of the anterior loop by following the trajectory of the nerve and was repeated on the opposite side. A 2-way mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was carried out to evaluate the sex- and ethnicity-related variations (α=.05). ResultsThe anterior loop was present in 94% of the 100 participants. Overall anterior loop length (AnLL) ranged between 0.73 and 7.99 mm with a mean length of 3.69 ±1.75 mm on the left side and 3.85 ±1.73 mm on the right side. Among all participants, no statistically significant differences were found between the left and right sides of the mandible (P=.379). Overall, no significant main effect of ethnicity (P=.869) or sex (P=.576) was found on AnLL measurements. Also, with multiple comparisons, no significant effect was found between each pair of ethnic groups. Men in all 3 ethnic groups had greater AnLL than women. ConclusionsThe anterior loop was present in 94% of the 100 participants among the 3 major ethnic groups of Malaysia. Overall AnLL ranged between 0.73 and 7.99 mm and mean lengths of 3.69 ±1.75 mm on the left side and 3.85 ±1.73 mm on the right side, with no significant ethnicity- or sex-related variations.

A Limited Field Cone-beam Computed Tomography–based Evaluation of the Mental Foramen, Accessory Mental Foramina, Anterior Loop, Lateral Lingual Foramen, and Lateral Lingual Canal

IntroductionThe aim of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate the cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT)-based characteristics of the mental foramen (MF), accessory mental foramen (AMF), anterior loop (AL), lateral lingual foramen (LLF), lateral lingual canal (LLC) and to explore any relationships between their characteristics. MethodsThe location and dimension of the MF; the incidence, location, and dimension of the AMF along with its distance to the MF; the presence and dimension of the AL; and the presence, location, angle of entry of the LLF and LLC, and its relation with the mandibular canal (MC) were evaluated in 109 CBCT scans. The data were analyzed descriptively, and associations were tested using the chi-square and analysis of variance tests. ResultsThe MF was most frequently located between the first and second mandibular premolar teeth (43.5%) or below the second premolar (34.3%). The mean horizontal dimension of the MF was 3.1 mm, the vertical dimension was 2.8 mm, and the mean vertical distance from the alveolar crest was 14.2 mm. An AMF was observed in 12.8% of cases with a mean distance of 4.1 mm from the MF. An AL was present in 47.2% of cases with a mean loop length of 3.38 mm. An LLF was present in 20.4% of cases, predominantly below the first premolar (27.3%) with a mean angle of entry of 148°. The LLC always communicated with the MC and generally not with the tooth apex. A statistically significant association existed between the presence of the LLF and AMF. ConclusionsThe anatomic complexity of the MF region was confirmed; hence, CBCT-based evaluation is essential before surgical exploration of this region.

Assessment of the anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve using reformatted computed tomography: a retrospective study

The anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is an important landmark in the anterior mandible that must be considered during the placement of dental implants. We measured the length and prevalence of loops of the IAN in 188 consecutive, dentate patients using reformatted computed tomography (CT). A total of 158/188 (84%) had at least one anterior loop; 111/188 (59%) had bilateral loops. The mean (SD) length of the loops in the third quadrant was 1.4 (0.7)mm; 95% CI 1.3 to 1.6; (range 0.3 – 4.0mm). The mean (SD) length of the loops in the fourth quadrant was 1.5 (0.9)mm; 95% CI 1.4 to 1.6; range 0.3 – 5.5mm. In total 42/188 (22%) had loops that were longer than 2mm in quadrants three and four. CT images that have been reformatted with specialised software may be useful to identify loops in the IAN, particularly when recent cone-beam CT images are not freely available. The prevalence of these loops is high while their length varies, which makes meticulous assessment necessary before the placement of implants.

Comparative Anatomy of Mandibular Neurovascular Canals in Modern Human and Great Apes: A Pilot Study with Cone Beam Computed to Mography

The aim of the present study was to compare mandibular neurovascular canal anatomy in human and great apes by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The anatomical variability of mandibular neurovascular canals (mandibular, incisive and lingual canals) of 129 modern humans and great apes (Homo, Pan and Gorilla) were analyzed by linear measurements on CBCT images. The Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test and Dunn’s all pairs for joint ranks were applied to compare the variability of mandibular canals among these groups. Human, Chimpanzee and Gorilla groups showed significant differences in the dimensions of the mandibular canal, mental foramen, incisive canal, lingual canal and anterior mandibular bone width. Bifid mandibular canals and anterior loops were the anatomical variations most frequently observed in the Gorilla. Humans had a larger mental foramen and a distinctive incisive canal. The latter could not be identified in the Gorilla group. The variability in the anatomy within mandibles of human and non-human primates, shows different forms in the neurovascular structures. In comparison to the mandible of great apes, the incisive canal is suggested to be a feature unique to the human mandible.