title: Novel three-dimensional position analysis of the mandibular foramen in patients with skeletal class III mandibular prognathism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the relative position of the mandibular foramina (MnFs) in patients diagnosed with skeletal class III malocclusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computed tomography (CT) images were collected from 85 patients. The vertical lengths of each anatomic point from the five horizontal planes passing through the MnF were measured at the coronoid process, sigmoid notch, condyle, and the gonion. The distance from the anterior ramus point to the posterior ramus point on the five horizontal planes was designated the anteroposterior horizontal distance of the ramus for each plane. The perpendicular distance from each anterior ramus point to each vertical plane through the MnF was designated the horizontal distance from the anterior ramus to the MnF. The horizontal and vertical positions were examined by regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analysis showed the heights of the coronoid process, sigmoid notch, and condyle for the five horizontal planes were significantly related to the height of the MnF, with the highest significance associated with the MnF-mandibular plane (coefficients of determination (R(2)): 0.424, 0.597, and 0.604, respectively). The horizontal anteroposterior length of the ramus and the distance from the anterior ramus point to the MnF were significant by regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relative position of the MnF was significantly related to the vertical heights of the sigmoid notch, coronoid process, and condyle as well as to the horizontal anteroposterior length of the ascending ramus. These findings should be clinically useful for patients with skeletal class III mandibular prognathism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon-Key
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Mandibular Nerve; Mandibular Osteotomy; Surgery, Computer-Assisted