The mandibular canal is an important inner structure of the mandible, or lower jaw. It is a small canal that contains the inferior alveolar artery and vein, as well as the alveolar nerve. In the ramus, it runs obliquely forward and downward, and in the body, it runs horizontally forward. The mandibular canal rests underneath the alveoli, which it is able to communicate with via tiny openings. Since this canal contains a nerve and both a vein and an artery, it’s important for dental professionals to determine its location in proximity to the desired procedure site. In root canal therapy of the second molar, a dentist must take care not to extend past the tooth root with either the reamer tool or root canal filling material. If an implant is being placed in this area, the attending surgeon must be sure that the placement of implant hardware does not interfere with the mandibular canal.