Assessment Of The Relationship Of The Distance Between Mandibular First And Second Molars With The Inferior Alveolar Canal And Cortical Bone Plate: A Cbct Study

The aim of the present cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) study was to evaluate the proximity of mandibular first and second molar roots to the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) and mandibular cortex in an Indian population. Scans of 55 adult patients were retrieved from the departmental archive at Shree Bankey Bihari Dental College and Research Centre, Ghaziabad. Measurements were obtained for the buccal and lingual bone plates and root thickness at a site 3 mm from the radiographic apex, as well as the proximity of the root apices to the IAC. Right and left mandibular first and second molars were recorded for each root. Four specific measurements were assessed: distance from the buccal root surface to the outer edge of the buccal cortical plate (M1), distance from the lingual root surface to the outer edge of the lingual cortical plate (M2), minimum distance from the IAC to the root apex (M3), and total bone width including the root (M4). Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and post hoc tests, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. The results revealed that mandibular second molar apices demonstrated closer proximity to the IAC compared to the first molars, with mesial roots positioned at a shorter distance than distal roots. The second molars also exhibited the greatest total bone width. These findings underline the importance for dental practitioners to be aware of the anatomical relationship of mandibular molar roots to the surrounding cortical plates and the IAC when planning surgical or endodontic procedures in the Indian population.