title: Characterisation of additional mental foramina through cone beam computed tomography.
abstract: Variations in jaw bone neurovascularisation must be identified to decrease the potential risk for haemorrhages and neural disturbances during surgical procedures such as implant placement and orthognatic surgeries. The aim of this study is to characterise additional mental foramina (AMF) through cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, by describing their frequency, size, location and direction of their associated bony canals, as well as to assess their corresponding ipsilateral and contralateral mental foramina (MF). CBCT images from 285 patients were analysed. Prevalence of AMF was 9·4%. From 0 to 2 AMF were observed, with two bilateral cases. Two cases of unilateral absence of MF were registered. Patients presenting AMF did not differ significantly from those without AMF regarding gender, age or ethnicity. Diameters of AMF and their corresponding ipsilateral and contralateral MF were 1·9 mm (±0·7 mm), 3·8 mm (±0·6 mm) and 4·1 mm (±0·6 mm), respectively. Ratios between diameters of AMF and corresponding ipsilateral MF ranged between 0·24 and 0·99. Location of AMF was variable, with most cases located posteriorly, posterior-inferiorly, posterior-superiorly or anterior-superiorly to their respective MF. Significant anatomical variability regarding neurovascularisation was observed among patients and CBCT examinations presented as a valuable tool for individually assessing these anatomical features.
authors.affiliation: Oral Imaging Center and Department of Periodontology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. oliveirachristiano@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Christiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Santos
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique Couto
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Azambuja Berti-Couto
authors.forename: Lien
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stinkens
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moyaert
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Assche
authors.forename: Reinhilde
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods