Reliability of cone beam computed tomography in comparison with panoramic radiography to predict the anatomical relationship of inferior alveolar nerve with mandibular third molar: A radiological and clinical study

ABSTRACT Objectives Exact location of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) bundle is very important. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the mandibular third molar and the mandibular canal by cone-beam computed tomography. Study design This was a cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. 94 mandibular CBCTs performed with CSANEX 3D machine (Soredex, Finland) and 3D system chosen. Vertical and horizontal relationship between the mandibular canal and the third molar depicted by 3D, panoramic reformat view of CBCT and cross-sectional view. Cross-sectional view was our gold standard and other view evaluated by it. Results There were significant differences between the vertical and horizontal relation of nerve and tooth in all views (p < 0.001). Conclusion The results showed differences in the position of the inferior alveolar nerve with different views of CBCT, so CBCT images are not quite reliable and have possibility of error. How to cite this article Mehdizadeh M, Ahmadi N, Jamshidi M. Evaluation of the Relationship between Mandibular Third Molar and Mandibular Canal by Different Algorithms of Cone-beam Computed Tomography. J Contemp Dent Pract 2014;15(6):740-745.

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Predicting the Risk of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injury in Impacted Lower Third Molars Using Panoramic Radiography and Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences ◽

10.14260/jemds/2021/593 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (34) ◽

pp. 2910-2914

Author(s):

Abhishek Verma ◽

Stuti Verma ◽

Anushikha Dhankhar ◽

Nitin Kumar Moral ◽

Nidhi Nagar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Nerve Injury ◽

Cone Beam Computed Tomography ◽

Panoramic Radiography ◽

Inferior Alveolar Nerve ◽

Third Molar ◽

Cone Beam ◽

Third Molars ◽

Panoramic Radiographs ◽

Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injury

BACKGROUND A serious complication of surgical removal of impacted lower third molars is inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury. Evaluation of radiographic factors to predict IAN injury using CT and panoramic radiography includes root morphology assessment, follicular sac size, mandibular bone density, inferior alveolar nerve and vessels, condition of the overlying tissues, relation of the impacted tooth with the body and ramus of the mandible and the adjacent teeth. This study was done to evaluate the radiological features of the impacted lower mandibular teeth and their relationship with IAN through panoramic radiography and CT and to assess the most predictable radiological criteria for inferior alveolar nerve injury in impacted third molar surgery. METHODS All the patients indicated for lower third molar extraction were included in the study and pre-operative conventional panoramic radiographs (Planmeca Proline PM 2002 CC, Helsinki, Finland) and CBCT (Kodak CBCT) were taken. Any post-operative nerve injuries detected were followed up after 15 days or 1 month. Fisher’s exact test was done to find the association between the outcome variable and explanatory variables. RESULTS Only 11.4 % (N = 4) of all participants had IAN injury following surgical disimpaction. All the participants with IAN injury showed narrowing of the canal on their preoperative panoramic radiographs and presence of nerve approximation with the tooth in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) reports (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS A statistically significant association exists between IAN injury and nerve exposure, radiographic signs of nerve involvement for panoramic radiograph, level of third molar impaction, and nerve approximation in CBCT. KEY WORDS Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injury, Lower Third Molar Impaction, Panoramic Radiography, CBCT

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