• Bikash Chaudhary, Ujjwal Joshi, Sirjana Dahal, Alok Sagtani, Pranaya Khanal, and Niroj Bhattarai.
• Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Bhaktapur, Nepal.
• JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2020 Nov 22; 58 (231): 879-883.

IntroductionThe positional relationship between the mandibularcanal with impacted mandibular third molar is the main factor of inferior alveolar nerve injury. The purpose of this study wasto classify the anatomical three dimensional relationship between the proximity of impacted mandibular third molars to the inferior alveolar canal.MethodsThe descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted inthe Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of a tertiary care hospital from July 2020 to August 2020 after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number 2506202001). Cone-beam computed tomography images of 200 patient's mandibular third molars were used. A convenient sampling method was used. Data were analyzed using Statistical package for the Social Sciences.ResultsMandibular canal relative to the roots of the mandibular third molar was observed on the apical side in 104 (52.0%) and 173 (86.5%) third molars had direct contact with the mandibular canal. About 36 (97.3%) lingually placed mandibular third molars had contact with the mandibular canal.ConclusionsThe findings of the study conclude that most of the mandibular third molars situated lingually had a higher occurrence of mandibular nerve involvement. The anatomic structures of the mandibular third molar and the mandibular canal may be helpful to draw upon the adequate surgical plan to avoidor reduce nerve involvement.

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