title: The prevalence, length and position of the anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve in Chinese, assessed by spiral computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study used spiral computed tomography to identify the anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve, and to measure its length and position in Chinese. This information may be useful to safely install endosseous implants in the most distal area of the interforaminal region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight Chinese patients were included in this retrospective study. Patients were scanned by 64-slice spiral computed tomography, and the prevalence, length, and position of the anterior loop were assessed using the multiplanar capabilities of software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An anterior loop could be identified in 83.1% of the cases, with a mean length of 2.09 mm (range 0-5.31 mm). The mean distance from the superior border of the mental foramen to the alveolar crest was 13.00 mm, and the mean distance from the superior border of the origin of the anterior loop to the alveolar crest was 17.83 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anterior loop was highly prevalent in Chinese, and the length of the anterior loop was highly variable. Therefore, we recommend that drilling commences from a location approximately 5.5 mm mesially from the mental foramen, when installing implants in the most distal interforaminal area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Guangzhou Liu Hua Qiao Hospital, 111 Liuhua Road, Guangzhou, 510010, Guangdong Province, China, drlixiao@21cn.com.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhu-Kun
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Wei-Jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D055815:Young Adult