Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 11

Radiological Study on the Anterior Loop of Inferior Alveolar Nerve

1Graduate Student, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, SIMATS, Saveetha University, No. 162, Poonamallee High Road, Vellapanchavadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

2Reader, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, SIMATS, Saveetha University, No. 162, Poonamallee High Road, Vellapanchavadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

*Corresponding Author: Dr. Jayanth Kumar V., Reader, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, SIMATS, Saveetha University, No.162, Poonamallee High Road, Vellapanchavadi, Chennai-600077, Tamil Nadu, e-mail: doctorjayanth@gmail.com, Mobile: 8056135807

Online published on 27 March, 2020.

Abstract

The inferior alveolar nerve, branch of the mandibular nerve consists of an anterior looping at its end which acts an important factor during certain dental procedures such as implant placement. The principle aim of this study is to scrutinise the anterior loop of inferior alveolar nerve using cone beam computed tomography.

Thirty CBCT scans were evaluated among which, 16 of them were males and 14 of them were females and was visualised with Planmeca romexis software. The anterior loop was measured bilaterally. In the axial slices, the radiolucent canal was traced beyond the mental foramen. This measurement was reconfirmed by taking measurements in the panoramic scale by tracing the canal anterior to the mental foramen using the nerve tracing tool.

From the data obtained, it was seen that the maximum length of the inferior alveolar nerve on the left side was 12mm and the maximum length of the inferior alveolar nerve on the right side was 15mm. The mean length of the loop on the left side was 1.07mm and 2.217mm on the right hand side. The mean length of the inferior alveolar nerve on the left side was found to be 2.21mm and on the right side, the mean length of the nerve was 5.04mm.

The anterior loop of inferior alveolar nerve is discernible in the orthopantamograph. This study helps to establish the anterior loop more clearly in the CBCT and also ensures the safe placement of implant away from the mental foramen.

Keywords

Mental foramen, CBCT, paraestheisa, planmeca, romexis