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Volume 7 Issue 9 (September, 2019)

Original Articles

Evaluation of inferior alveolar canal and its variations using Cone-beam CT-scan
Vikash Sharma, Abhilasha Yadav, Shirish Dubey, Anuj Thakur, Khalid Abdul Hafiz, Rajib Rudra Paul

Background: The knowledge of the precise location of anatomical landmarks such as mandibular foramen, Inferior alveolar canal (IAC), mental foramen and the course of the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle is mandatory to obtain the desired outcome of different mandibular surgical procedures and overcome various surgical complications. Objective: To document a clinically relevant position of the Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) in completely dentate patients, to identify the linear relationship of the Inferior alveolar canal (IAC) to the buccal and lingual cortex (BCP/LCP)of the mandible and to the peri-apex of the teeth as well as to assess the presence and course of the anterior loop in the mental foramen region according to the gender and side, using Cone Beam Computerised Tomography (CBCT). Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized 378Cone Beam Computerised Tomography (CBCT) images from 232 patients (one patient may have images of both side of mandible which are counted as two separate images) to obtain quantifiable data to localize the IAC. Measurements to the IAC were made from the BCP &LCP and the root apices of the mandibular pre molars and molars. Results: In 15 subjects,18 accessory mental foramina(AMF) were detected. Anterior loop in the mental region was detected in 91% of the scans. The IAC was noted to be closest to the buccal cortical plate in the region of premolars on both sides. The distance between the lingual outer cortex to outer surface of the IAC along lingual side, distance between buccal outer cortex to outer surface of the IAC along buccal side, distance between the peri-apex to the superior surface of IAC were recorded to assess accurately the position of the IAN within the IAC. Conclusion: With increasing demand for accurate preoperative assessment and planning prior to surgeries of this region, cross-sectional images such as from CBCT may be utilized for obtaining more information on the appearance, location and course of the IAC, and its relation to other anatomical structures in the jaw bone including the apex of the tooth. Key words: Cone beam computed tomography, Inferior alveolar canal, Inferior alveolar nerve, mental foramen, accessory mental foramina.

 
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