THE CLINICAL STUDY OF THE MANDIBULAR CANAL LOCATION IN MANDIBULAR MOLAR AREAS USING DENTASCAN

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the location of the mandibular canal on lower molar areas. Thirty-three patients were examined with multi-planar reformatted CT scan(Dentascan.). Three kinds of measurements were performed. The first was the distances between the upper border of the mandibular canal and the root apices of the first and second molars, the second was the distance between the cortical plate of the mandible and mandibular canal, and the last was the location of the mandibular canal in the buccolingual plane. The obtained results are as follows 1. The distance between the root apices of lower molars and the superior border of mandibular canal was largest at the mesial root of the first molar, and shortest at the distal root of the second molar(p<0.05). 2. The longest distance between the outer surface of the buccal cortical plate of the mandible and mandibular canal was measured from the distal root of the second molar, and this distance decrease gradually mesially(p<0.05).

3. The distance between the mandibular base and inferior border of mandibular canal was longest at the distal root of the second molar, and shortest at the mesial root of the first molar(p<0.05). 4. The location of mandibular canal was lingually positioned in relation to the axis of teeth and alveolar ridge in molar areas.