MEASUREMENTS OF DISTANCES RELATED TO THE MANDIBULAR CANAL IN RADIOGRAPHS

Before implant surgery in the mandibular side segment, it is of utmost interest to locate the mandibular canal in radiographs to avoid inter ference with the neurovascular bundle during surgery. Six mandibular s pecimens were radiographically examined with 2 panoramic and 3 tomogra phic techniques. The distances between the superior border of the cana l and the alveolar crest and between the mandibular base and the infer ior border of the canal were measured. In addition, the height of the canal was measured. The measurements were performed by 3 or 4 observer s and compared with measurements on contact radiographs of the same ar eas. Tomography gave more accurate values of the above distances than panoramic techniques. The variation between observers in detecting the mandibular canal was large.