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Morphometrical analysis of the human mandibular canal: a CT investigation

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to clarify the correct localization of the mandibular canal (MC) that is essential in order to avoid injuries to the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle during oral surgical procedures.

Methods

We have analyzed the position of the MC using computed tomography data bank examinations of the oral region from 50 partially dentulous Brazilian patients aging from 25 to 75 years old (mean ± SD values = 51.70 ± 4.50; females = 27; males = 23) that were obtained with the purpose of dental restoration and without any gross pathology of the mandible. Axial images were 1-mm-thick slices using bone regular algorithm, without intravenous contrast.

Results

We have measured (mean ± SD) the orthogonal distances between the MC and the following selected regions of the mandible: (a) the buccal cortical plate (6.10 ± 1.52 mm); (b) the inferior border of the mandible (10.55 ± 2.28 mm); (c) the lingual cortical plate (3.98 ± 1.14 mm); and (d) the superior border of the alveolar process (16.98 ± 2.85 mm).

Conclusions

Our morphometric findings may help clarifying the detailed anatomy of the MC and its topographical relations for the planning of dental implantation.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to Dr. Heraldo Belmont (3D Diagnose Lab) for the 3D CT procedures. We are grateful to Alexandra Ferreira dos Santos, Antonia Lima Carvalho and Tania Regina Pontes Cordeiro for their help during the organization of this investigation. This research was partly supported by grants from FAPERJ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco F, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brazil

    Marcello Rodrigues de Oliveira Júnior, André Luis Santos Saud, Debora Rodrigues Fonseca, Bernardo De-Ary-Pires, Mário Ary Pires-Neto & Ricardo de Ary-Pires

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Getúlio Vargas State Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Marcello Rodrigues de Oliveira Júnior & Debora Rodrigues Fonseca

  3. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital de Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    André Luis Santos Saud

Authors
  1. Marcello Rodrigues de Oliveira Júnior
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  2. André Luis Santos Saud
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  3. Debora Rodrigues Fonseca
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  4. Bernardo De-Ary-Pires
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  5. Mário Ary Pires-Neto
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  6. Ricardo de Ary-Pires
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Correspondence to Ricardo de Ary-Pires.

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de Oliveira Júnior, M.R., Saud, A.L.S., Fonseca, D.R. et al. Morphometrical analysis of the human mandibular canal: a CT investigation. Surg Radiol Anat 33, 345–352 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-010-0708-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-010-0708-3

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