Effect of mandibular positioning on preimplant site measurement of the mandible in reformatted CT.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mandibular positioning on measurement of the reformatted cross-sectional image of the mandible in computed tomography (CT) according to the area on the mandible. Five dried mandibles, partially edentulous in the premolar and molar areas, were selected. The inferior border of the mandible was placed at 0-, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-degree angles to the CT scanning plane, and CTs were taken. The marked area of the reformatted cross-sectional image taken at each angle was found, and the distance from the most superior border of the mandibular canal to the alveolar crest was measured. As the angle between the CT scanning plane and mandibular plane increased, the distance from the most superior border of the mandibular canal to the alveolar crest also increased. The degree of increase was more pronounced in the posterior portion of the mandible than in the anterior portion of the mandible. As mandibular positional change in the CT gantry can affect the vertical measurement of the reformatted cross-sectional image, a correct guiding plane is necessary to accurately position the jaw to the CT scanning plane.