Method: CBCT scans from 106 patients (ages 18-69) were used to evaluate measurements from 960 teeth and respective MC areas.
Result: Respective location of MC to teeth (buccal, inferior or lingual) were as follows: 2nd molar (57% buccal; 40% inferior and 2.9% lingual); 1st molar (18.3% buccal; 55.2% inferior, and 26.5% lingual); and the 2nd premolar (33% buccal, 55.5 % inferior and 11.4% lingual). Buccal bone thickness over the MC was thickest at mesial root of 2nd molars and thinnest over the 2nd premolar (5.4 mm vs. 2.6 mm). The lingual bone next to the MC was thickest over the 2nd premolar and thinnest at distal root of 1st molars (3.8 mm vs. 1.7 mm). The average diameter of the MC along the length of the canal from 2nd molar to 2ndpremolar was 3.03 mm on left and 2.91 mm on right. The anterior loop was present in 10.4% of patients, with the average depth below bone of 13.43 mm. The anterior loop was more often seen on the left side than right, and seen 50% of the time bilaterally.
Conclusion: Mandibular bone thickness, nerve location and dimension data all contribute to a knowledge base. The application of CBCT imaging techniques aids in the surgical treatment, while offering advantages over conventional periapical and panoramic films.