The appearance of mental foramina on panoramic radiographs. I. Evaluation of patients.
The appearance of the mental foramen on panoramic radiographs can be classified as a continuous, separated, diffuse, or unidentified type. In a sample of 297 patients, the most frequent appearance was separated (43%), followed by diffuse (24%), continuous (21%), and unidentified (12%). There were no significant differences in foramen diameter or relative vertical position within foramen types or developmental stages of the dentition. It is strongly suspected that sometimes the radiographic landmark presumed to be the mental foramen may actually be the reappearance of the mental canal.
Nippon Dental University, Department of Radiology, School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
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Brooks
D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002965:Classification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic