Magnetic Resonance applications in dental implantology: technical notes and preliminary results

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the field of dental implantology, for identifying the mandibular nerve, as proposed by several authors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI was used for the study of the mandible in ten subjects (five healthy volunteers and five subjects awaiting dental implants). Imaging was performed on a 1.0-T MR scanner with a brain coil. T2 TSE, T1 spin-echo and T2 gradient-echo sequences were performed, both parallel and perpendicular to the horizontal portion of the mandible, with a thickness of 3 mm. RESULTS: In all the subjects MRI clearly identified the intraosseous course of the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle within the mandibular canal. CONCLUSIONS: MRI appears useful for the depiction of the mandibular canal before dental implantation. Further studies are required to compare the accuracy of MRI and CT based on a statistically significant sample.