title: Cone beam computed tomographic evaluation of nutrient canals and foramina in the anterior region of the mandible.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the incidence and anatomical location of mandibular nutrient canals (NCs) originating from the mandibular canal using dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT images from 105 patients were examined to evaluate the presence, number, diameter, and course of NCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NCs and their foramina were bilaterally located in 17 (16.2 %) images. The mean diameters of NCs and foramina were 0.9 ± 0.4 (range, 0.2-3.2) mm and 0.9 ± 0.4 (0.2-2.1) mm, respectively. NCs coursed through the mandibular incisor region up to the lingual surface of the alveolar bone crest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed the frequency and distribution of NCs using CBCT image analysis. NCs are important because surgical injury to the neurovascular bundle within these canals can lead to excessive bleeding and postoperative paresthesia. The identification of NC on CBCT images may be useful during the harvesting of bone blocks or placement of endosseous implants in the anterior region of the mandible.
authors.affiliation: Mikinogahara Dental & Oral Surgery Clinic, 10-1 Higashi-Ichiban-Chou, Towada, Aomori, 034-0012, Japan. ao@cream.plala.or.jp.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6149-177X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Meihou Dental Clinic, Akita, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyasu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuta
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, School of Dentistry, Iwate Medical University, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakasato
authors.affiliation: Nakasato Dental Clinic, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakasato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D063405:Anatomic Variation; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006253:Haversian System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CBCT; Mandible; Nutrient canal; Nutrient foramen