title: A precise radiographic method to determine the location of the inferior alveolar canal in the posterior edentulous mandible: implications for dental implants. Part 1: Technique.
abstract: In severely atrophic or osteoporotic mandibles, the location of the inferior alveolar nerve may vary considerably, both superoinferiorly and mediolaterally. A clinician's ability to reliably locate this nerve within the mandible would permit the surgical planning of implant placement in the posterior edentulous mandible. Eight edentulous cadaver mandibles were studied. A technique that precisely locates the inferior alveolar nerve within the mandible is described. The technique will aid the surgeon in planning a surgical approach to the posterior mandible with reduced risk of injury to the inferior alveolar nerve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas 76104.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tharanon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008963:Molar; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray