Hamed Manochehriifar
Introduction: Mental foramen allows the passage of neurovascular bundles containing the mental nerve and arteries to the external surface of the mandible. Therefore, information about the mental foramen (MF) location in periapical surgeries and implant placement is essential. On the other hand, accessory mental foramina (AMF), and lingual foramen (LF) can make this region more complicated. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of these foramina with CBCT
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 CBCTs from an oral and maxillofacial radiology center were randomly selected and examined. CBCT images were reviewed, and data on the number of MF, AMFs, LF, the position of the MF, AMF, LF (right/left), and its distance from the alveolar crest and adjacent teeth were collected. Chi-squared test, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data
Results: The prevalence of AMF was 17%. The difference in the prevalence of accessory mental foramina between male and female patients was not statistically significant (P=0.24). Twenty-seven (79.4%) of individuals with AMF had one, and seven (20.6%) had two. Gender had a significant effect on the mean of the maximum size of MF in the vertical dimension (P<0.001) and the distance of MF from the alveolar crest (P<0.001). The prevalence of lingual foramen (LF) was 56%, and the difference in prevalence between male and female patients was not statistically significant (P=0.41). LF in 71.4% of the subjects was located unilaterally, and in 28.6%, it was located bilaterally.
Conclusion: In general, the prevalence of AMF in the present study was higher than in previous studies, and its prevalence was not different between men and women.