Association between Mandibular Canal Course and Interforaminal Area in Panoramic Radiographs for Implant Placement

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of mandibular canal course with mental foramen localization in panoramic radiographs on edentulous patients’ for implant placement evaluation.Material and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on the panoramic radiographs of 788 edentulous patients. Horizontal measurements L (left mental foramen to the left mandibular ramus), R (right mental foramens to the right mandibular ramus), M (between the mental foramens) and vertical measurements D1 (mental foramen’s inferior border to the mandibular basis), D2 (mental foramen’s superior border to the alveolar crest) were digitally evaluated. Mandibular canals were classified into two types as linear and elliptic. Analysis of demographic data and correlations between canal course and linear measurements were carried out. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro Wilks tests, Kruskal Wallis test, and Chi-squared test were used to compare the qualitative data (p ˃0.05).Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the D1/D2 mean values and the canal course according to the age groups. The rate of the elliptic canal course in the men (41.6%) was significantly higher than that in the women (26.6%). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean D1/D2, (R + L)/M and L/M values according to the canal course.Conclusions: Both elliptical and linear canal courses do not affect the interforaminal distances, resulting ineffective in the anteroposterior spread of implants in cases of interforaminal implant placement.