title: Buccolingual course of the inferior alveolar canal in different mental foramen locations: A cone beam computed tomography study of an Iranian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Better understanding of the anatomical location and course of the mandibular canal is necessary to avoid damaging inferior alveolar nerve.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the buccolingual course of the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) in different mental foramen locations, using cone beam computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and twelve hemimandibular images were evaluated in this study. The location of mental foramen in relation to the apices of mandibular premolar and molar teeth were recorded. Nine measurements (in millimeters) were taken at the level of the IAC and posterior mandibular premolar and molar root apices. Relative distances of IAC to buccal and lingual mandibular cortex were calculated for different mental foramen types.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance andP< 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of subjects according to the type of mental foramen includes: Type 1 = 50.3% (at the level of second premolar apex), Type 2 = 33% (between the apices of first and second premolars), and Type 3 = 16.7% (between the apices of second premolars and first molars). The buccolingual ratio of the IAC position was statistically significant in different mental foramen types (P= 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The position of IAC was affected by the location of the mental foramen. The direction of IAC gradually changed from lingual to buccal and from posterior to anterior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Atieh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Safaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Sanam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mirbeigi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ezoddini
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khojastepour
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navab-Azam
keywords: Buccolingual; Iranian; cone beam computed tomography; inferior alveolar canal