title: A morphometric analysis of the mandibular canal by cone beam computed tomography and its relevance to the sagittal split ramus osteotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to morphometrically analyze the mandibular canal through the mandibular ramus by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to relate the findings to performing sagittal split ramus osteotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT of 200 patients were analyzed. Five parameters were measured at the axial scan, from the mandibular foramen to 21 mm below it (3-mm intervals). The canal was classified according to the position within the bone marrow space. Variations were evaluated according to age, sex, side, and number of mandibular teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The following measurements increased gradually towards the most inferior level of measurement: the total thickness of the mandibular ramus through the center of the mandibular canal, the width of the bone marrow space (both buccal and lingual), and the narrowest width from the mandibular canal inner cortical to the mandibular ramus external cortical. The inner diameter of the mandibular canal slightly decreased to the same direction. Concerning the mandibular canal position within the bone marrow space, the percentage of the separate type increased towards the most inferior level of measurement, and the contact and fusion types decreased. Age, number of teeth, and sex had no significant influence on the total thickness of the mandibular ramus and on the narrowest width from the mandibular canal inner cortical to the mandibular ramus external cortical.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Carl Gustafs väg 34, 205 06, Malmö, Sweden. bruno.chrcanovic@mah.se.
authors.forename: Bruno Ramos
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Chrcanovic
authors.affiliation: Slice Diagnóstico Volumétrico por Imagem, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinícius
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Carvalho Machado
authors.affiliation: Clinics for Prosthodontics, Centre of Dental Specialist Care, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gjelvold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D063405:Anatomic Variation; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D014070:Tooth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: Cone beam computed tomography; Mandibular canal; Mandibular foramen; Mandibular ramus; Morphometric measurements; Sagittal split ramus osteotomy