~ 144 ~ International Journal of Applied Dental Sciences 2017; 3(2): 144-147 ISSN Print: 2394-7489 ISSN Online: 2394-7497 IJADS 2017; 3(2): 144-147 © 2017 IJADS www.oraljournal.com Received: 25-02-2017 Accepted: 26-03-2017 Cek Dara Manja Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sumatera Utara Jl. Alumni No.2 Kampus USU Medan, Indonesia Mahsa Abolmaesoomi Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sumatera Utara Jl. Alumni No.2 Kampus USU Medan, Indonesia Correspondence Cek Dara Manja Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sumatera Utara Jl. Alumni No.2 Kampus USU Medan, Indonesia Panoramic radiography assessment about difference of morphometric and position of mandibular canal in relation to gender at the age of 17-20 years Cek Dara Manja and Mahsa Abolmaesoomi Abstract Significant differences were found in the analysis of measurement and position of the mandibular canal in relation to gender that can be caused by multiple factors such as hormone and masticatory muscle tension. The aim of this study was to understand the difference in measurement and position of the mandibular canal in relation to gender at the age of 17-20 years. The type of this study is observational analysis with 50 samples consisting of 25 male and 25 female subjects. Analysis was done using unpaired T-test with a confidence interval of 95% whereby significance was obtained when p<0.05. the result was the mean value of the vertical linear measurements of the left mandibular canal showed that measurements D1, D2, D4, D5, D6 and D7 was larger in male compared to female, but measurements D3 was larger in female compared to male. The mean value of ratios R! and R2 was larger in female while R3 was shown larger in males. The most frequent position of the mandibular canal showed a relation of proximity to the roots of the mandibular third molar. This concluded that there is a significant difference found in vertical linear measurements D1, D2, D4, D5, D6 and D7 of the mandibular canal but there is no significant difference in position of the mandibular canal in relation to gender. Keywords: Mandibular canal, measurements, position, gender, panoramic radiography 1. Introduction The mandibular canal is a canal located on the surface of the medial mandibular ramus and runs along from the mandibular foramen to the mental foramen. The mandibular canal is also a bony canal in the mandible that is the passageway for a portion of the trigeminal nerve and veins that supplies blood to the lower teeth [1] . A study by Amorim et al (2009) on morphological description of mandibular canal in panoramic radiographs concluded that the position and the measurements of the mandibular canal are influenced by gender [2] . A study by Rashid et al (2011) on morphometric analysis of mandibular canal course and position in relation to gender and age of Iraqi samples concluded that there is a significant difference in six linear measurements of the mandibular canal between male and female. In male, the position of the mandibular canal is closer to the apexes of the tooth and the vertical measurements are larges compared to female [3] . Enlow & Hans (2002) stated that in an adult, the rate of growth of the mandibular is faster in male and the craniofacial dimension of a male is larger as much as 5% - 9% compared to a female [4] . Another study by Rashid et al (2011) on sex determination using linear measurements related to the mental and mandibular foramen concluded that the position and measurements of the mandibular canal was higher in male [5] . Panoramic radiography also known as orthophantography and panoramic tomography can capture a complete representation of the upper jaw, lower jaw, teeth, temporomandibular joint and also a part of the maxillary sinus. This amazing quality of panoramic radiography allows dentists to record and analyze all the masticatory components and its interrelationship [6] . There are many complications that can occur when using local anesthetics in the mandibular. This can be avoided by taking a panoramic radiograph before any treatment especially during surgery for impacted 3 rd molar, implants and split ramus osteotomy to avoid damaging the IAN in the mandibular canal that can cause complications like bleeding, paralyzing and trauma [7] .