Table 7.

Horizontal densitometric analysis in relation to mandibular canal (MC) visibility scoring

MC part for visibility evaluation	JDS part for horizontal densitometric analysis
	MC-IB-Ho	IB-Ho	AC-MC-HoP
Medial inferior	–a	1 [113.9 (6.5)] and 5 [94.5 (3.6)] (p = 0.04), 3 [112.2 (5.0)] and 5 [94.5 (3.6)] (p = 0.02)	1 [133.9 (12.0)] and 4 [96.0 (7.2)] (p = 0.03)
Distal superior	4 [85.6 (3.6)] and 5 [108.2 (9.0)] (p = 0.02)	3 [106.7 (3.9)] and 4 [96.4 (3.1)] (p = 0.04)	–a

JDS, jaw dental segment.

MC part for visibility evaluation, JDS mandibular canal visibility evaluation in medial inferior and distal superior parts [visibility scores (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) in pairs]; JDS part for horizontal densitometric analysis, JDS measurement part for horizontal densitometric analysis: MC-IB-Ho, the trabecular bone below the MC; IB-Ho, the inferior cortical bone region; AC-MC-HoP, 2.0 mm below the superior cortical bone of the edentulous JDS (or mathematical average of horizontal measurements in medial and distal parts of the dentate JDS trabecular bone 2.0 mm below the superior cortical bone) when visibility of the MC superior border is poor {measurement values are presented as mean [standard error (SE)] in relative measurement units}.

Statistically significant results are presented: “visibility score [horizontal densitometric analysis value (SE)]” and “visibility score [horizontal densitometric analysis value (SE)]” “(p-value)”.

^a“–” indicates no statistically significant difference.