title: Appearance of anatomical structures of mandible on panoramic radiographs in Iranian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently panoramic radiography is used for diagnosis of dental and bone lesions, but anatomical structures also can be seen and may be useful in dental managements. This study aimed to investigate the visibility of some important mandibular features relating to neurovascular structures in Iranian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Panoramic radiographs were taken by Planmeca machine from 412 patients using standard exposure. The position of patient was in compliance with standard protocol. Then mandibular incisive canal was evaluated and data were analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mental foramen, anterior loop of mental nerve and incisive canal could be observed in 84.2, 66 and 51.7% of the cases. Respectively, lingual foramen was observed in only 6.1% of the radiographs. Gender doesn't affect on the visibility of these structures. There was a relationship between mandibular foramen and canal with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mandibular incisive canal was considered in 51.7% of cases, it was observed that the result obtained was more than those of other researches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jalili
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esmaeelinejad
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bayat
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Aghdasi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002680:Chin / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D055815:Young Adult