Radiography: Mandibular Anatomy

The mandible has what shape?

horseshoe shape

-moveable

mental ridge?

What does the mental ridge look like radiographically?

information on mental ridge 

radiopaque & found in the mandible

What is the lingual foramen?

What does the lingual foramen look like radiographically?

INFOrmation on lingual foramen 

radiolucent & in the mandible srrouned on genial tubercules

What are genial tubercles?

information genial tubercules 

inferior to mandibular incisors & radiopaque 

What do genial tubercles look like radiographically?

What is the mental foramen?

information on the mental foramen

radiolucent & in the region of the mandibular premolars

What does the mental foramen look like radiographically?

What could the mental foramen be misdiagnosed as?

a periapical lesion (cyst, granuloma, or abcess) because of its apical location

-in some cases

What is the mandibular canal?

What does the mandibular canal look like radiographically?

information on mandibular canal 

radioluncentt  band, with two thin radiopaque line  & below the apices of the mandibular molar teeth

What can be viewed from a projection of the posterior molars? (start at coronal portion and work toward apex)

coronal

1. external oblique

2. Inferior oblique (mylohyoid ridge)

3. mandibular canal

4. mandibular gland fossa

5. inferior border of mandible

What is the mylohyoid ridge?

A linear prominence of bone located on the internal surface of the mandible

-serves as an attachment site for the mylohyoid muscle

-also referred to as inferior oblique ridge

What does the mylohyoid ridge look like radiographically?

information on mylohyoid ridge

dense radiopaque band that extends downward and forward from the third molar region at the level of the apices of the posterior teeth

What is the external oblique ridge?

information on external oblique ridge

appears as a radiopaque band extending downward and forward from the anterior border of the ramus of the mandible

-starts behind last tooth and comes forward

What does the external oblique ridge look like radiographically?

What is the submandibular gland fossa?

 

information on submandibular gland fossa

radiolucent area in the molar region below the mylohyoid ridge

What does the submandibular gland fossa look like radiographically?

 

What does the inferior border of the mandible look like radiographically?

information on inferior border of the mandible

 radiopaque band of bone

-only see if there is a lot of angulation

What are nutrient canals?

anatomic structures of the alveolar bone through which neurovascular elements transit

Where are interdental nutrient canals most often seen?

in the anterior mandible, a region that typically has thin bone

Thinning of the nutrient canals is a sign of what?

aging

information on nutrient canals

little lines of radiolucency found in maxillary & mandible

What do nutrient canals look like radiographically?