Master of Science in Dentistry / Objectives: The aims of this study were: • to evaluate the exact level of the mandibular canal using Cone Beam Volumetric Tomography (CBVT) using measurements taken on images from the NewTom3G and i-CAT machines and manually • to determine the course of the mandibular canal in the regions of the first, second , and third molars • to compare the course of the mandibular canals bilaterally • to compare variables measured between the CBVT and panoramic units • to determine appropriate positions for the implant placement at the region of the mandibular molars in relation to the mandibular canal. Methods: Ten mandibles were selected, including seven edentulous and three dentate ones. They were marked at four positions from the distal border of the mental foramina in the posterior direction at intervals of 10.00 mm. On each dry mandible, at four sites namely M0, M1, M2, and M3, Gutta Percha (GP) points, known as markers, were attached to the mandible so that they were parallel to the midline of the mandible on both buccal and lingual sides. On the NewTom 3G and i-CAT, variables of cross-sectional images were measured from the alveolar crest of the mandible to the superior border of the mandibular canal (AC); the lingual rim of the canal to the lingual margin of the mandible (LC); the buccal rim of the canal to the buccal margin of the mandible (BC); the inferior rim of the canal to the lower border of the mandible (IC), and from the lingual margin to the buccal margin of the mandible (BW: Bone Width). Dry mandibles were subsequently sacrificed by cutting at the four marked sites. On each cross-section of mandibles, distances AC, BC, LC, IC, and BW were measured using a caliper as the manual measurement. IC distances on a conventional OrthophosIII panoramic machine were also measured to compare with the CBVT. Data were managed by Microsoft Office Excel 2003 and transferred to the software of Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 for Windows for analysis. Data were presented as Mean, Standard Deviation (SD), and Mean Difference, and Standard Error of Mean (SEM) with decimal at 0.00. T-test and One-way ANOVA were used to analyse variables measured in which T-test was used to analyse variables with paired samples and One-way ANOVA was used with adjustment for multiple comparisons of Bonferroni. Statistical significance has an assumed P- value of 0.05 or less. Results: The findings showed that there was no significant difference among measured variables from the NewTom 3G, i-CAT and manual measurement (P>0.05). There was significant statistical difference between the Orthophos OPG machine and CBVT system (P=0.00<0.05). There was no significant difference in the course of the mandibular canals bilaterally (P>0.05). On average, Distances AC, BC, LC, and IC were obtained for reference purposes. The bone width of the mandible on the right side was slightly different from that on the left side. Conclusions: The findings implied CBVT was an accurate diagnostic tool for locating the course of the mandibular canal and for placing dental implants in the region of the mandibular molars. The course of the mandibular canal on the left and right sides was variable. The distances measured at the region of the first, second, and third mandibular molars should be considered as a valuable reference. The bone width of the mandible on the right and left sides was slightly different. The accuracy of the NewTom3G and i-CAT was superior to the panoramic Orthophos machine. However, a panoramic radiograph is still valuable in the daily dental clinic.

Master of Science in Dentistry / Objectives: The aims of this study were: • to evaluate the exact level of the mandibular canal using Cone Beam Volumetric Tomography (CBVT) using measurements taken on images from the NewTom3G and i-CAT machines and manually • to determine the course of the mandibular canal in the regions of the first, second , and third molars • to compare the course of the mandibular canals bilaterally • to compare variables measured between the CBVT and panoramic units • to determine appropriate positions for the implant placement at the region of the mandibular molars in relation to the mandibular canal. Methods: Ten mandibles were selected, including seven edentulous and three dentate ones. They were marked at four positions from the distal border of the mental foramina in the posterior direction at intervals of 10.00 mm. On each dry mandible, at four sites namely M0, M1, M2, and M3, Gutta Percha (GP) points, known as markers, were attached to the mandible so that they were parallel to the midline of the mandible on both buccal and lingual sides. On the NewTom 3G and i-CAT, variables of cross-sectional images were measured from the alveolar crest of the mandible to the superior border of the mandibular canal (AC); the lingual rim of the canal to the lingual margin of the mandible (LC); the buccal rim of the canal to the buccal margin of the mandible (BC); the inferior rim of the canal to the lower border of the mandible (IC), and from the lingual margin to the buccal margin of the mandible (BW: Bone Width). Dry mandibles were subsequently sacrificed by cutting at the four marked sites. On each cross-section of mandibles, distances AC, BC, LC, IC, and BW were measured using a caliper as the manual measurement. IC distances on a conventional OrthophosIII panoramic machine were also measured to compare with the CBVT. Data were managed by Microsoft Office Excel 2003 and transferred to the software of Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 for Windows for analysis. Data were presented as Mean, Standard Deviation (SD), and Mean Difference, and Standard Error of Mean (SEM) with decimal at 0.00. T-test and One-way ANOVA were used to analyse variables measured in which T-test was used to analyse variables with paired samples and One-way ANOVA was used with adjustment for multiple comparisons of Bonferroni. Statistical significance has an assumed P- value of 0.05 or less. Results: The findings showed that there was no significant difference among measured variables from the NewTom 3G, i-CAT and manual measurement (P>0.05). There was significant statistical difference between the Orthophos OPG machine and CBVT system (P=0.00<0.05). There was no significant difference in the course of the mandibular canals bilaterally (P>0.05). On average, Distances AC, BC, LC, and IC were obtained for reference purposes. The bone width of the mandible on the right side was slightly different from that on the left side. Conclusions: The findings implied CBVT was an accurate diagnostic tool for locating the course of the mandibular canal and for placing dental implants in the region of the mandibular molars. The course of the mandibular canal on the left and right sides was variable. The distances measured at the region of the first, second, and third mandibular molars should be considered as a valuable reference. The bone width of the mandible on the right and left sides was slightly different. The accuracy of the NewTom3G and i-CAT was superior to the panoramic Orthophos machine. However, a panoramic radiograph is still valuable in the daily dental clinic.

The objective of this study was to: (1) model the course of the lingual nerve (LN) in the third molar region using digitized data and (2) investigate landmarks to aid in predicting the position of LN. A MicroScribe 3-DX digitizer and Autodesk® Maya® 8.5 were used to create 3-D in-situ models of LN for seven human cadaveric specimens. Regression analysis demonstrated that an anteriorly positioned lingula is directly proportional to the vertical distance of the LN relative to the alveolar crest (p < 0.05). A superiorly positioned mylohyoid ridge was also directly proportional to the vertical distance of the LN relative to the alveolar crest (p < 0.05). The LN is positioned closer to the alveolar crest in specimens where the mylohyoid ridge is positioned superiorly (p = 0.001). This study demonstrated a novel way of quantifying the relative position of the LN using 3-D computer modeling.

The objective of this study was to: (1) model the course of the lingual nerve (LN) in the third molar region using digitized data and (2) investigate landmarks to aid in predicting the position of LN. A MicroScribe 3-DX digitizer and Autodesk® Maya® 8.5 were used to create 3-D in-situ models of LN for seven human cadaveric specimens. Regression analysis demonstrated that an anteriorly positioned lingula is directly proportional to the vertical distance of the LN relative to the alveolar crest (p < 0.05). A superiorly positioned mylohyoid ridge was also directly proportional to the vertical distance of the LN relative to the alveolar crest (p < 0.05). The LN is positioned closer to the alveolar crest in specimens where the mylohyoid ridge is positioned superiorly (p = 0.001). This study demonstrated a novel way of quantifying the relative position of the LN using 3-D computer modeling.