The remodeling of the posterior edentulous mandible as illustrated by computed tomography

Park, Chang Seo

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze radiologically the location and course of the mandibular canal and to observe the alveolar and basal bone changes during the remodeling procedures of atrophic mandible.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
CT scanning was performed on dry 30 edentulous or partially dentulous mandibles. In 48 edentulous lower halves, measuring areas were determined by three points in the length of the mandibular canal. The distance from the mandibular canal towards cranial and caudal edges, buccal and lingual external borders of the body of the mandible were measured. A statistical comparison between the mean values of different classes of mandibular body was carried out in the selected areas.
RESULTS
The distance between the mandibular canal and caudal borders of the body of the mandible and lingual borders dose not change in the atrophic process of mandible. The mandibular canal within the mandible courses downwards from mandibular foramen towards mesial and subsequently it gets to the mental foramen. The distance between the mandibular canal and buccal external border of basal bone changes similar to the change of cranial borders of alveolar bone in the atrophic process of mandible.
CONCLUSION
CT scanning was very effective and practicable to analyze the location and course of the mandibular canal and to observe the alveolar and basal bone changes of atrophic mandible. Also more detailed investigation of basal bone changes observed during the remodeling procedures of atrophic mandibles seems reasonable to rely on the massive anthropologic collections of atrophic mandibles combined with CT scanning.