Anatomical position of the mandibular canal in relation to the buccal cortical bone: relevance to sagittal split osteotomy

Objectives: Classification of the degree of postoperative nerve damage according to contact with the mandibular canal and buccal cortical bone has been studied, but there is a lack of research on the difference in postoperative courses according to contact with buccal cortical bone. In this study, we divided patients into groups according to contact between the mandibular canal and the buccal cortical bone, and we compared the position of the mandibular canal in the second and first molar areas. Materials and Methods: Class III patients who visited the Dankook University Dental Hospital were included in this study. The following measurements were made at the second and first molar positions: (1) length between the outer margin of the mandibular canal and the buccal cortical margin (a); (2) mandibular thickness at the same level (b); (3) Buccolingual $ratio=(a)/(b){\times}100$; and (4) length between the inferior margin of the mandibular canal and the inferior cortical margin. Results: The distances from the canal to the buccal bone and from the canal to the inferior bone and mandibular thickness were significantly larger in Group II than in Group I. The buccolingual ratio of the canal was larger in Group II in the second molar region. Conclusion: If mandibular canal is in contact with the buccal cortical bone, the canal will run closer to the buccal bone and the inferior border of the mandible in the second and first molar regions.