JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL RESEARCH Juodzbalys et al. Guidelines for the Identification of the Mandibular Vital Structures: Practical Clinical Applications of Anatomy and Radiological Examination Methods

Objectives: The purpose of this article was to review the current available clinical techniques and to recommend the most appropriate imaging modalities for the identification of mandibular vital structures when planning for oral implants. Material and Methods: The literature was selected through a search of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane electronic databases. The keywords used for search were mandibular canal, mandibular incisive canal, mental foramen, anterior loop of the mental nerve, radiography, dental implants. The search was restricted to English language articles, published from January 1976 t