Abstract

SALVADOR, Josiane Furini; MEDEIROS, Paulo Leal; FERREIRA JUNIOR, Osny  and  CAPELOZZA, Ana Lúcia Alvares. Radiographic anatomy of the mandibular canal and its variations in panoramic radiographs. Innov. Implant. J., Biomater. Esthet. (Online) [online]. 2010, vol.5, n.2, pp. 19-24. ISSN 1984-5960.

In this study, the prevalence of the different anatomical variations of the mandibular canal and the view of the mental foramen in panoramic radiographs, using the classification proposed by Nortjé was evaluated. Regarding channels bifid, we use the classification proposed by Langlais. The sample comprised 915 radiographs, 583 were women and 332 men, whites and blacks. For the description of proportions was used Confidence Interval 95%. For comparison of proportions between groups was used the chi-square, with the level of significance of 5% (p < 0.05). The morphological differences of the mandibular canal were not influenced by gender or by ethnicity, the sample studied, when comparing the sample with samples obtained by other authors, there were differences, relative to the height of the mandibular canal, the most prevalent was the Type II in women and Type IV in males and the lowest prevalence was for Type III in both sexes, for the channels that showed the bifurcation Type 0 was more prevalent in both sexes; curve mesial of the mandibular canal was present in most interpreted the radiographs, but this difference was not statistically significant, the mental foramen can not be viewed in 0.4% of the radiographs, all men.

Keywords : Radiography; panoramic; Mandibular nerve; Mandible.