Evaluation of the Location of Mandibular Foramen as an Anatomic Landmark Using CBCT Images: A Pioneering Study in an Iranian Population

Abstract

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Mandibular foramen (MF) is located on the internal surface of the ramus through which blood vessels and nerves pass. Determination of the anatomic position of the MF is very important in inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia (IANBA), ramus osteotomy and surgical procedures of the posterior angle of mandibular ramus. The aim of this study was to determine anatomic position of the MF using anatomic landmarks on the three dimensional CBCT images. <strong>Material and </strong><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 103 CBCT images was evaluated. The NNT Viewer software program was used to measure the distances between the lines tangent on the MF periphery and the anterior border of the ramus, the posterior border of the ramus, the inferior border of the mandible, and the coronoid notch in mm by to age and gender. <strong>Results: </strong>The results showed a slight difference in anatomic dimensions between the right and left sides, with no significant differences. The anatomic dimensions of the MF on both sides were a little bigger in males than in females. There were no significant differences in the anatomic dimensions of superior-inferior and anterior-posterior dimensions of the left and right sides in different age groups. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>No significant changes occur in the position of the MF with age. The anatomic differences between males and females should be taken into account during IANBA procedures. Males have bigger jaws than females; therefore, there is a longer distance between the MF and the anatomic landmarks evaluated. </p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: Mandibular Foramen; Anatomic Landmarks; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography</p>

Evaluation of Mandibular Foramen Variations Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Egyptian Population

“…(11.8mm). According to the findings in this study, no significant difference existed in the position of the mandibular foramen in the right and left sides, This finding was in agreement with the results of Shokri et al, since they did not find any significant difference in this respect between the right and left in Hamadan city (12,(18)(19)(20) .…”

“…They were 17.40mm in the right and 17.55mm in the left side. In another study carried out in Indian population, this distance was 21.74mm in the right and 21.92 mm in the left side (16,18) .…”

“…In 2018, a study evaluated CBCT images to determine the position of MF relative to the anterior and posterior borders of ramus, inferior border of the mandible and mandibular notch. Another studies conducted in2015 and 2014 evaluated the position of mandibular foramen relative to these four references using reconstructed panorama based on CBCT images (16)(17)(18) .…”