Anatomical Study of Mental Foramen Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Selected Adult Dentate Kurdistan Patients

Abstract

Mental foramen is a very important anatomical landmark in dentistry and knowledge about mental foramen is very important because it transfers the mental nerve and vessels. The aim of thisresearch was to study the morphology and morphometry of the mental foramen using cone beam computed tomography in dentate adult Kurdistan patients. Thirty nine cone beam computed tomography were studied to analyze the shape, position, distance, and diameter of mental foramen. It was found that the most common variation of mental foramen was oval shape, and situated in line between 1st and 2nd premolar, and apical to the apex of associated tooth,and these variations showeda nonsignificant differences with the gender and age. The mean distances from mental foramen to the alveolar crest in the right and left side was 13.37±2.41 and13.60±1.96 mm respectively, and the mean distances from mental foramen to the inferior mandibular borderin the right and left side was10.98±1.97 and10.82±1.95mm respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences regarding the gender and side, but significant difference present regarding age group. The mesio-lateralmean distance in the right and left side was 3.87±0.85and 3.68 ±0.78 mm respectively. But the superior-inferior distance in the right and left side was 3.17 ±0.85 and3.25 ±1.00 mm respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant relation present with the gender, age group, and side.Knowing the exact location of the mental foramens and its variations is very important andcan help toplan surgical procedures properly.