Variation in mandibular canal position in different sagittal skeletal patterns: a CBCT study.

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Mandibular morphology exhibits variations influencing skeletal patterns (Class I, II, III).
• The mandibular canal's anatomical position is crucial for surgical planning.
• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is commonly used for its evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a 3D analysis of the mandibular canal's position in adults across different skeletal patterns (Class I, II, III).
• Utilize CBCT image segmentation and 3D measurements for precise positional assessment.

Main Methods:

• Acquired 75 CBCT images from a database.
• Performed 3D analysis using ITK-SNAP and 3D Slicer software.
• Segmented the mandible and mandibular canal, created 3D models, and took vertical, transverse, and 3D measurements.

Main Results:

• Mandibular canal position varies with skeletal pattern, sex, and gonial angle.
• Class III patterns show reduced supero-inferior proximity to the oblique line.
• Mandibular canal position correlates with gonial angle variations and may approach the lingual cortex.

Conclusions:

• Mandibular canal position is a critical factor in tomographic evaluations for diagnosis and surgical planning.
• Consideration of mandibular canal position is especially important for sagittal ramus osteotomies.