title: Location of facial foramina and mandibular angle from cone beam computed tomographic scans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study's purpose was to determine morphometric analysis of all facial foramina and mandibular angle relative to surgical landmarks from cone beam computed tomographic scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-dimensional computed tomographic scans were reconstructed from data of 100 patients (200 sides) aged between 19 and 76 years. Morphometric measurements of all facial foramina relative to surgical landmarks were taken. Mandibular angle was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference between the left and right sides for all parameters (P > 0.05). Therefore, we found bilateral symmetry in the position of all facial foramina and mandibular angle. However, statistically significant differences were determined in sexes in some of these parameters and mandibular angle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The knowledge about locations of facial foramina and mandibular angle is important for performing local nerve block and surgery in the face to avoid the neurovascular structures. This study provides a guideline for locations of facial foramina and mandibular angle, which may help surgeons to understand the nerve location precisely during surgery.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, and †Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülnur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Özgüner
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koyuncu
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sulak
authors.forename: Said Enes
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Er
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002680:Chin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D015050:Zygoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging