title: Analysis of the Size and Position of the Mental Foramen Using the CS 9000 Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mental foramen (MF) houses vital neurovascular structures, thus making it an anatomic landmark of great importance for many dental procedures. Because the size and position of the MF can vary, proper planning is necessary beforehand to prepare the strategy of treatment. The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to determine and compare the size and position of the MF using the CS 9000 CBCT unit (Carestream Dental, Rochester, NY) to the findings from similar studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tangential, axial, and coronal CBCT images of 106 patients were retrospectively evaluated to determine the size and position of the MF with respect to the mandibular second premolar apex and the cementoenamel junction. Distinguishing characteristics of sex, age, and race were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding location, 53.7% of the MFs were located mesial, 45.3% distal, and 1% coincident to the apex of the mandibular second premolar. Males had a significantly greater coronal height and tangential height measurement than females. Black patients had a significantly greater distal horizontal distance from the cementoenamel junction than white patients. The mean width of the MF was 4.08 mm (axial) or 4.12 mm (tangential), whereas the mean height was 3.54 mm (tangential) or 3.55 mm (coronal).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that the size and position of the MF can be reliably measured using limited field of view CBCT technology. The findings are similar to previous studies when considering the averages and ranges of the measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carruth
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas. Electronic address: jhe@bcd.tamhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Jianing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Byron W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Emet D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D044383:Black People; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CS 9000; Cone-beam computed tomographic imaging; limited field of view; mandibular anatomy; mental foramen