Measurement of Anterior Loop Length for the Mandibular Canal and Diameter of the Mandibular Incisive Canal to Avoid Nerve Damage When Installing Endosseous Implants in the Interforaminal Region: A Second Attempt Introducing Cone Beam Computed Tomography
Purpose
To measure and compare the anterior loop length (ALL) for the mandibular canal and the mandibular incisive canal diameter (ICD) at its origin in cadavers using anatomy and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to safely install endosseous implants in the most distal area of the interforaminal region.
Materials and Methods
The ALL and ICD were measured using CBCT in 4 cadavers, and using anatomy in 71 cadavers.
Results
The ranges and mean ± SD for the anatomic measurements were: ALL, 0.0 to 9.0 mm and 1.9 ± 1.7 mm; ICD, 1.0 to 6.6 mm and 2.8 ± 1.0 mm. The average discrepancies between CBCT and anatomic measurements were 0.06 mm or less for both the ALL and the ICD, which were less than the resolution of CBCT.
Conclusions
Because large variations in measurements were observed, both for ALL and ICD, no fixed distance mesially from the mental foramen should be considered safe. The ALL and the ICD can be estimated from the CBCT measurement. The preoperative CBCT measurement yields important information for each case.
⁎Research Fellow, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Saga Medical School, Nabeshima, Saga, Japan; Private Practice, Uchida Dental Clinic, Chihaya, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
†Research Fellow, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Saga Medical School, Nabeshima, Saga, Japan
‡Professor and Chairman, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Saga Medical School, Nabeshima, Saga, Japan
§Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Saga Medical School, Nabeshima, Saga, Japan
¶Professor and Chairman, Department of Anatomy, Saga Medical School, Nabeshima, Saga, Japan
∥Professor and Chairman, Oral Implant Clinic, The Nippon Dental University Hospital, Nippon, Japan
⁎⁎Professor and Chairman, Department of Anatomy, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, Nippon Dental University, Nippon, Japan
††Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, Nippon Dental University, Nippon, Japan
‡‡Professor and Chairman, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, Nippon Dental University, Nippon, Japan
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Uchida: Uchida Dental Clinic, 2-27-5, Chihaya, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 813-0044, Japan
ABSTRACT