Mandibular canal topography – review of the literature

Abstract

This study represents a review of the literature on the topography of the mandibular canal. A PubMed and MedLine search was performed alongside with a hand search of specialised books. 193 abstracts, 41 full articles and 12 books were used for the study, out of which 93 were included in the references list. The region of the mandibular body behind the first premolar contains the mandibular canal, which presents a certain trajectory in relation with the lateral teeth apices and in relation with the buccal and lingual cortical plates. The mandibular canal is considered an important anatomic landmark that can influence the success of endodontics, oral surgery procedures and implant therapy.