ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MANDIBULAR CANAL COURSE AND INTERFORAMINAL AREA IN PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPHS FOR IMPLANT PLACEMENT

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of mandibular canal course with mental foramen localization on edentulous patients’ for implant placement. Material and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on the panoramic radiographs of 788 edentulous patients. Horizontal measurements L (left mental foramen to the left mandibular ramus), R (right mental foramens to the right mandibular ramus), M (between the mental foramens) and vertical measurements D1 (mental foramen’s inferior border to the mandibular basis), D2 (mental foramen’s superior border to the alveolar crest) were digitally evaluated. Mandibular canals were classified into two types as linear and elliptic. Analysis of demographic data and correlations between canal course and linear measurements were carried out. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro Wilks tests, Kruskal Wallis test, and Chi-squared test was used to compare the qualitative data (p