Mental foramen and lingual vascular canals of mandible on MDCT images: anatomical study and review of the literature

Abstract

The mental foramen and lingual vascular canals are related to vessels and nerves in the mandibular body. The aim of the present study was to determine the number and location of these structures and to make measurements of them. The archived Multidetector Computed Tomography images of 100 adult (15- to 70-year-old) patients were evaluated retrospectively. The diameters of the mental foramens and their distances from the front, back, upper and lower reference points were measured. The distribution of mental foramens with respect to the teeth was also researched. The presence of lingual vascular canals, and the number of median and lateral canals was determined, and the length of the median lingual vascular canals measured. All measurement parameters were analyzed by gender, side and age group. Eleven patients demonstrated a total of 15 accessory mental foramen. Median lingual vascular canals were observed in 100% of cases, with lateral lingual vascular canals determined in 32%. Significant differences were observed in the results of different gender groups (P < 0.05); in contrast, no significant difference was observed related with age or side. Accessory mental foramen was determined mostly in males, and unilaterally on the right side; also, the distances of mental foramen, except the distance from the back border of the mandible (P < 0.05), were found to be higher, bilaterally, in males. Variation of mental foramen, as well as the presence, position and size of lingual vascular canals can be clearly investigated by multidetector computed tomography. A preoperative knowledge of the positions of neurovascular and bone structures is very important for preventing complications that may occur during or after operations.

Surgically-oriented anatomical study of mandibular premolars: A CBCT study

“…According to other studies on the same topic (36,37), we evaluated the distance between the surgical site and the surrounding anatomical structures, making a virtual root-end resection of 3-mm length. In the majority of cases the apical foramen was located at the level of the MSP or between the two premolars (38,39). The distance between the surgical site and the mental foramen was similar to the measure of the resection (3 mm) and this could be a major factor in supporting the use of tridimensional radiographic imaging (CBCT) before surgical endodontics in this area.…”

Forames mentuais anômalos: Relato de caso e considerações anatômicas

“…A localização do FMA depende do FM e das raízes dos dentes posteriores (Gümüsok et al, 2017) O estudo de imagem pré-operatório é importante antes de qualquer procedimento cirúrgico na região mentual (Direk et al, 2018). Em pacientes com inervação acessória, espera-se que ocorra falha anestésica em 10-20% dos casos se apenas o nervo alveolar inferior for bloqueado (Boronat, Peñarrocha, 2006).…”

Anatomy of the accessory mental foramen in a Saudi subpopulation: A multicenter CBCT study

“…Adequate knowledge about vital anatomical structures is of the utmost importance in the field of endodontics due to their proximity to the root apices of the teeth ( Direk et al, 2018 ). This proximity has a vital impact on diagnosis, particularly during radiographic evaluations ( Di Lenarda et al, 2000 ), nonsurgical treatments ( Knowles et al, 2003 ), and surgical endodontic treatment ( Moiseiwitsch, 1995 ).…”

“…The location of the MF has been thoroughly investigated in the literature. Alsoleihat et al (2018) investigated a Jordanian population, and Direk et al (2018) conducted an anatomical study and review of the literature on a Turkish population. Dos Santos Oliveira et al (2018) analyzed the MF location along with other parameters in a Brazilian population, and Krishnan et al (2018) examined data from Australia.…”

“…Many studies have reported that the location of the MF is related to the apex of the mandibular second premolar ( Phillips et al, 1990 ), but the exact location may differ based on several variables. Examples include race ( Hollinshead, 1982 ), the methodologies used in the studies, which may include the use of dried skulls ( Miller, 1953 ), panoramic radiographs ( Halwani and Muteq, 2017 ), and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) ( Alsoleihat et al, 2018 , Direk et al, 2018 , Dos Santos Oliveira et al, 2018 , Krishnan et al, 2018 , Li et al, 2018 , Naitoh et al, 2009 ). These variables may lead to different findings.…”