open access

Vol 79, No 3 (2020)
Original article
Submitted: 2019-07-30
Accepted: 2019-08-26
Published online: 2019-09-25
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Location and course of the mandibular canal in dentate patients: morphometric study using cone-beam computed tomography

A. Arias12, C. Venegas3, N. Soto4, I. Montiel3, C. Farfán2, P. Navarro52, Ramón Fuentes2
·
Pubmed: 31565789
·
Folia Morphol 2020;79(3):563-569.
Affiliations
  1. Universidad Adventista de Chile, Chillán, Chile
  2. Research Centre for Dental Sciences (CICO), Department of Integral Adults Dentistry, Dental School, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
  3. Undergraduate Student, Dental School, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
  4. Dental School, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
  5. Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile

open access

Vol 79, No 3 (2020)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2019-07-30
Accepted: 2019-08-26
Published online: 2019-09-25

Abstract

Background: The morphometric characteristics of the mandibular canal (MC) may vary according to the characteristics of the population studied. Correct location of the MC is fundamental for the indication and planning of different dental treatments, and it is therefore essential to have clinical parameters indicating its approximate location. The aim of this study was to describe the location and course of the MC by morphometric relations in the mandibular body, from the mental foramen to distal of the first molar, in dentate adult patients.

Materials and methods: We analysed 55 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) of male and female patients, aged over 18 years and with fully dentate to the first molar. In each CBCT we selected five coronal sections (A–E) of the mandibular body at different levels using the teeth as references. We determined different morphometric measurements in each section to relate the MC with the corticals of the mandibular body (m1, m2, m3, m4), their orientation to lingual (F) and the thickness of the mandibular corticals (B1, B2 and B3).

Results: The distance between the MC and the alveolar crests was greater in males than in females in all the sections. In general, in all the hemiarches, the MC courses away from the vestibular cortical of the mandible (and in some cases significantly towards the lingual cortical) from anterior to posterior in the mandibular body. In the left hemiarch of dentate females the MC describes a descent in the molar zone within the mandibular body. Any intervention in the mandible must be carried out with extreme caution to avoid damaging the vasculo-nervous bundle which passes through the MC.

Conclusions: Cone-beam computed tomography is the best tool currently available for the planning and execution of surgical procedures, and is the only tool in clinical use which allows the precise course of the MC to be identified.

Abstract

Background: The morphometric characteristics of the mandibular canal (MC) may vary according to the characteristics of the population studied. Correct location of the MC is fundamental for the indication and planning of different dental treatments, and it is therefore essential to have clinical parameters indicating its approximate location. The aim of this study was to describe the location and course of the MC by morphometric relations in the mandibular body, from the mental foramen to distal of the first molar, in dentate adult patients.

Materials and methods: We analysed 55 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) of male and female patients, aged over 18 years and with fully dentate to the first molar. In each CBCT we selected five coronal sections (A–E) of the mandibular body at different levels using the teeth as references. We determined different morphometric measurements in each section to relate the MC with the corticals of the mandibular body (m1, m2, m3, m4), their orientation to lingual (F) and the thickness of the mandibular corticals (B1, B2 and B3).

Results: The distance between the MC and the alveolar crests was greater in males than in females in all the sections. In general, in all the hemiarches, the MC courses away from the vestibular cortical of the mandible (and in some cases significantly towards the lingual cortical) from anterior to posterior in the mandibular body. In the left hemiarch of dentate females the MC describes a descent in the molar zone within the mandibular body. Any intervention in the mandible must be carried out with extreme caution to avoid damaging the vasculo-nervous bundle which passes through the MC.

Conclusions: Cone-beam computed tomography is the best tool currently available for the planning and execution of surgical procedures, and is the only tool in clinical use which allows the precise course of the MC to be identified.

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Keywords

mandibular canal; cone-beam computed tomography; Chilean population; localisation

About this article
Title

Location and course of the mandibular canal in dentate patients: morphometric study using cone-beam computed tomography

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 79, No 3 (2020)

Article type

Original article

Pages

563-569

Published online

2019-09-25

Page views

1369

Article views/downloads

815

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2019.0103

Pubmed

31565789

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2020;79(3):563-569.

Keywords

mandibular canal
cone-beam computed tomography
Chilean population
localisation

Authors

A. Arias
C. Venegas
N. Soto
I. Montiel
C. Farfán
P. Navarro
Ramón Fuentes

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