Radiographic determination of the distance of the mandibular third molar tooth to the inferior alveolar canal

Abstract EN

Background: This study was done to evaluate the following: 1.

Distance between the mandibular canal and the bwer third molars ' '2- Distance between the mandibular canal and the lower cortex of the mandible materials and methods: One hundred radiographs were taken from patients' files who attended the dental clinics of the Faculty of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology.

All radiographs were exposed and processed in a standardized pattern.

Substandard radiographs were excluded.

Results: The image of lower 3rd molars in of 66% of cases were found above the mandibular canal border, 16% of the cases were touching the upper border, 14% between the borders ,2% bebw the canal border and 2% touching the tower border.

The vertical distance between the lower border of the mandibular canal and the inferior border of the mandible at the area mesial to the lower thirds were not simibr in both sides, in the right side 2% of cases are of 0.4 cm distance, and 1% of 2.2 cm distance and the majority 13% are of 0.9 cm distance.

Whereas in the left side the majority 14% is of 1.1 cm distance, 5% of 0.4 cm and 1 % is of 3.5 cm distance.

Conclusion: In this study, it was found that 16 % of the cases touching the upper border of the mandibular canal in right side and 31% in left side which indicates the presence of a deviation of the inferior dental canal.