Retrospective analysis of the anatomy of mental foramen and surrounding bone structures using cone beam computed tomography in patients admitted to Hacettepe University Faculty of Dentistry

In the surgical applications to the mental foramen region, especially in dental implant placement and apical resection, the location, shape and dimensions of the mental foramen and the anatomy of the surrounding bone structure are very important for the dentist. In cases where clinical examination is insufficient for correct planning and uncomplicated procedure, the radiological evaluation of this region with the help of cone beam computed tomography increases the chances of success of the physician and prevents the possible complications. The cone beam computed tomography, which is one of the advanced imaging methods, enables the mental foramen and surrounding bone structure to be visualized and measured in three planes, and surgical interventions can be more accurate and uncomplicated. The aim of this study is to make linear measurements of the mental foramen and the surrounding bone structure, to investigate the localization and the type of termination of mental foramen, the presence of tooth adjacent to the mental foramen and mandibular incisive canal. In order to obtain information about the anatomy of the mental foramen, the maximum width and depth of the axial section and the maximum height of the coronal section were measured. The alveolar crest width in the lingual, the distance to lowest point of the mandibular basis and the distance from the alveolar crest to the top of the mental foramen was measured perpendicularly. The region from the canine tooth of the patients to the mesial root of the first molar tooth was divided into three, and the area of the mental foramen was examined. The distance between the mental foramen and the apex of the nearest tooth was measured. As a result of these measurements, it is aimed to inform the dentist before the surgical procedure to the region of the mental foramen, to prevent possible complications and to prevent failures. Key words: Mental foramen, mandibular incisive canal, cone beam computer tomography