Gonzalo Muñoz; Fernando José Dias; Benjamin Weber; Pablo Betancourt & Eduardo Borie

It is critical to know the precise location and configuration of the mandibular canal (MC) to avoid damages in the alveolar inferior nerve during an invasive dental treatment. The aim of this study was to provide anatomic relationships of the mandibular canal in its entire pathway related to cortical walls and dental roots to serve as basic knowledge for dental clinical procedures performed in this area. We analyzed 50 CBCT images assessing the specific location of MC at the retromolar space as related to inferior teeth roots. Data were analyzed by side using descriptive statistics (median: mean [M], standard deviation [SD], 95 % confidence interval: lower endpoint [IC] and upper endpoint [IC’]). The MC length and pathway were measured from the mandibular foramen up to the mental foramen. MC was closer from lingual cortical than buccal at the retromolar space as well the distal root of the second molar and the root of the second premolar are closest to MC. A mean length for the MC of 70.8 (±5.3 mm) for the right side and 71 (±5.8 mm) for the left side were observed. In conclusion, it is critical for clinicians to know three-dimensionally the topographic relationships between the inferior teeth roots and the mandibular canal before proceeding to any invasive dental or surgical procedure at this region.

KEY WORDS: Mandibular canal; Cone beam computed tomography; CBCT scans; Dental treatment.

MUÑOZ, G.; DIAS, F. J.; WEBER, B.; BETANCOURT, P. & BORIE, E. Anatomic relationships of mandibular canal. A cone beam CT study. Int. J. Morphol., 35(4):1243-1248, 2017.