title: Morphometrical analysis of the human mandibular canal: a CT investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco F, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-590, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcello Rodrigues
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Júnior
authors.forename: André Luis Santos
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Saud
authors.forename: Debora Rodrigues
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De-Ary-Pires
authors.forename: Mário Ary
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pires-Neto
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Ary-Pires
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed