Approach for assessment of inferior alveolar canal to roots of mandibular second molar and mandibular cortex for ramadi city individuals, Iraq: A retrospective radiographic study

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the distances between inferior alveolar canal (IAC) to both mesial and distal roots of mandibular second molar (M2) and inferior mandibular cortex. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on 110 patients (50 women and 60 men) aged between 20 and 50 years. Each patient took one panoramic image and one digital intraoral image for the right side at second molar area. Patients were evaluated by gender and age (coterie I = 54 and coterie II = 56). Data were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Statistics software, version 22.0 (IBM, Chicago, Illinois), and the mean values were compared using the compare means test. Results: The results showed no significant differences at P > 0.05 between men and women in the distances of M2 roots and mandibular cortex to IAC by both digital techniques. However, the roots of M2 of women (2.7 and 1.8 mm by digital panoramic, 2.6 and 2 mm by digital intraoral image) and of those aged less than 35 years (3.1 and 2.45 mm by digital panoramic, 3.1 and 2.56 mm by digital intraoral image) were near to the IAC. Conclusion: Preoperative investigations to know the degree of vicinity of roots of M2 and lower jaw canal by using of digital radiographic imaging (intraoral and panoramic) depending on their properties (image enhancement, measuring tools, and updating data) have high values to avoid a complications such as distress and numbness after dental procedures by direct damage or pushed toxic dental materials in this tunnel.