Evaluation of Mental Foramen with Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A Systematic Review of Literature

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of this systematic review is to assess whether the anatomy of mental foramen is precisely evaluable with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) before implantation in humans. Methods. A systematic review was carried out to evaluate the anatomy of mental foramen (size, position, symmetry, anterior loop, and accessory mental foramen or multiple mental foramina). According to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, an electronic search of three databases (Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) was undertaken until June 2020 and was supplemented by manual searching. Two reviewers will independently perform the processes of study inclusion, data extraction, and quality assessment. Systematic reviews, studies about children, and case reports were excluded. Only studies using CBCT to do preoperative evaluation were selected. Results. From 728 potentially eligible articles, 72 were included in the qualitative analysis and quantitative synthesis. This systematic review provided an assessment of the anatomy of the mental foramen. The mental foramen was located mostly between the two premolars (between 50.4% and 61.95%) or apically to the second premolar (from 50.3% to 57.9%). The mean diameter of the mental foramen was bigger in males than in females; the difference between them could reach 0.62 mm. The anterior loop seemed to be longer in males (between 0.87 ± 1.81 and 7.25 ± 2.02 mm) than in females (between 0.81 ± 1.18 and 6.52 ± 1.63 mm) and with the presence of teeth (from 0.91 ± 1.18 to 2.55 ± 1.28 for dentate people and from 0.25 ± 0.61 to 2.40 ± 0.88 mm for edentate population). The anterior loop and the accessory mental foramina were detected more frequently with CBCT than panoramic X-ray: only between 0.0 and 48.6% AMFs detected with CBCT were also seen with panoramic images. Clinical Significance. The mental foramen (MF) is an important landmark for local anesthesia and surgical and implantology procedures. Its location, morphology, and anatomical variations need to be considered to avoid mental nerve injury. The aim of this review is to evaluate the mental foramen using CBCT through a systematic literature review to improve knowledge of this complex area for the clinician.

Prevalence, length, and patterns of Anterior Loop among the South Indian population: A comparative study between Panoramic Radiography and Cone Beam Computed Tomography

“…18 Moghaddam MR et al (2017) and Antoinette et al (2021) found mean anterior loop length was 2.77 6 1.56 and ranged between 0.87 6 1.81 and 7.25 6 2.02 mm, respectively. 19,20 Jae-Young Kim reported in their study that a 4-6 mm safety margin from the anterior border of mental foramen has been recommended. 21 The literature reveals the longest length of anterior loop was around 11 mm.…”

Morphometric study for determining the anteroposterior position of the mental foramen in dentate human subjects

“…Pelé et al (2021) [ 35 ] analyzed the MnF antero-posterior topography and illustrated that it was located mostly between PM1 and PM2 (from 50.4% to 61.95%) or at PM2 level (from 50.3% to 57.9%). Then, it was situated between PM2 and M1 (16.7% to 19.4%) or at M1 level (from 6.7% to 10.7%) and exceptionally in front of PM1 or between M1 and M2 (second molar).…”

The evaluation of changes in maxillofacial bones using cone beam tomography in acromegaly

“…Pele et al . ( 12 ) reviewed the literature and concluded that the mean distance from mandibular base to mental foramen ranged between 10 and 15 mm. In present study, in concordance with the literature, distance from mandibular base to mental foramen ranged between 9,76mm to 12,5 mm.…”