Visibility of the Mandibular Canal: From Two-Dimensional Radiography to Three-Dimensional Imaging

The mandibular canal (MC), located within the mandible, carries the inferior alveolar nerve and the inferior alveolar vessels. This neurovascular bundle is at risk during mandibular surgical procedures. Therefore, an adequate preoperative evaluation of the MC could lead to safer treatment with fewer postoperative complications. The purpose of this paper was to review the most commonly used radiographic techniques in dentistry (periapical, panoramic, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)) as well as their benefits and drawbacks in terms of MC visibility and, as a result, better preoperative planning in dentistry. Although panoramic radiography and CBCT technology are useful for the MC assessment, CBCT exposes the MC image more accurately and is thus regarded as the best technique for pre-surgery radiographic planning.