Cone-beam Computed Tomography Measurement of the Position of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve Canal in Mandibular Prognathism

Background and Objectives: To determine the anatomic position of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) canal in patients with mandibular prognathism using the cone-beam CT (CBCT). Materials and Methods: Fifty rami from 25 patients were evaluated. The images were taken by i-CAT and reconstructed 3-dimensionally using the Simplant 11 program. The linear distances between the IAN canal to the buccal cortex (a, $a^{\dag}$ and $a^{\ddag}$), from the IAN canal to the alveolar crest (b and $b^{\dag}$) and the anterior margin ($b^{\ddag}$) and finally the buccal cortical thickness (c, $c^{\dag}$ and $c^{\ddag}$) were measured at three reference planes (VP, OP and HP). Results: On the left side, the average distance of a, b and c were 7.12, 15.96 and 3.60 mm on the VP plane, respectively. On the OP, the distance of $a^{\dag}$, $b^{\dag}$ and $c^{\dag}$ was 6.11, 8.83 and 2.63 mm. For the HP, the distance of $a^{\ddag}$, $b^{\ddag}$ and $c^{\ddag}$ was 4.84, 10.11 and 2.30 mm. On the right side, the distance of a, b and c, on the VP, was 7.10, 16.13 and 3.42 mm, respectively. On the OP, the distance of $a^{\dag}$, $b^{\dag}$ and $c^{\dag}$ was 4.77, 8.75 and 2.68 mm. On the HP, the distance of $a^{\dag}$, $b^{\dag}$ and $c^{\ddag}$ was 4.55, 9.84 and 2.38 mm. Regarding the difference between genders, the distance in male's was longer than female's on the VP (p=0.019), and was thicker in males than females on the HP (p=0.002). Conclusion: The CBCT data provided accurate information about the location and course of the IAN.