High-resolution MRI performed on a 3.0-T system can effectively visualize variations of the inferior alveolar nerve in dentate mandible of patients. Thus, MRI can be used in dentistry and oral surgery in vague or unclear cases, which could not be clarified by orthopantomography or even a computed tomographic scan, to improve patient care.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the visualizability, topography, and course of the mandibular canal with particular attention to the incisive canal on 3-T MRI. Particular attention was paid to the incisive canal anastomosis at the symphysis. A total of 64 dentate patients were examined using a modified T2 space sequence using 3-T MRI. The scans were analyzed with respect to the topography of the entire course of the mandibular canal, mental canal, incisive canal, and nutrient canals. The high-field MRI of the lower jaw allowed detailed visualization of the mandibular canal, the incisive canal, and the surrounding connective tissue structures. In the context of the present study, 3-T MRI was found to be a potentially useful imaging method for displaying the course of the entire inferior dental canal for pre-implantation planning, surgical planning, and diagnosis.
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