Utilization of Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Analyzing the Relationship Between the Mandibular Fourth Premolar Tooth Roots, the Mandibular Canal, and Ventral Mandibular Cortex in 81 Small Breed Dogs

The mandibular fourth premolar teeth (308, 408) and surrounding mandibular bone are subject to pathologies such as periodontal disease, periapical pathology, and mandibular fracture. As such, the locations of these teeth roots in relation to the mandibular canal and the ventral mandibular cortex are important considerations when developing a surgical treatment plan. This study analyzed the 308 and 408 teeth with cone beam computed tomography scans in 81 small breed dogs. There was no statistically significant variance found in distance to the mandibular canal or the mandibular ventral cortex between the individual mesial and distal roots of 308 and 408. The mesial roots of 308 and 408 tended to be lingual and within the mandibular canal, while the distal roots tended to be dorsal and buccal to the mandibular canal. There was a statistically significant variance regarding the mesial roots and distal roots in relation to the mandibular canal.