Introduction

The mental foramen is a funnel-like opening located on the surface of the anterolateral aspect of the mandible. It marks the termination of the mandibular canal in the mandible, through which the inferior alveolar nerve and vessels pass. It forms an important anatomical landmark in the mandible.^[1] A complete understanding of this structure is essential, as it emerges as a neurovascular bundle, and any direct or indirect damage during surgical procedure would lead to complications.^[2] It is known that there are no absolute anatomical landmarks for reference, and the foramen cannot be clinically visualized or palpated. The mental foramen differs in size, shape and location which may be related to race, age and gender.^[3] Several imaging modalities have been used to evaluate the morphology and morphometry of mental foramen and anterior loop of mental nerve.

Computed Tomography (CT) and Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) have brought about paradigm shift in diagnostic imaging and have helped overcome the limitations of two-dimensional imaging. Cone Beam Computed Tomography is a volumetric imaging modality which is ideal for capturing anatomic structures with less radiation exposure (0.04 – 0.17 mSv), is cost effective and has short acquisition time. All these considerations make CBCT a very promising imaging modality in maxillofacial diagnosis.^[4]

With the above background, the present study is designed to determine the morphology and morphometric dimensions of mental foramen using CBCT.

Materials and Methods

The images of 80 subjects with the age range of 20 to 60 years who had undergone cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) examination of the mandible were retrieved from the archival records of the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology using random sampling method. All the subjects were equally divided into four age groups with intervals of 10 years each and with equal distribution of males and females in each of these groups. The CBCT images of the mandibular premolar and molar regions of both the sides were included in the study. The images with pathologies and fractures, errors and artifacts obscuring visibility of the structures in the mandibular premolar-molar region were excluded from the study.

The images were obtained using CBCT machine (Soredex, Sweden) and measurements were made using OnDemand software. The three standard sections, that is, axial, coronal and sagittal sections were used for making the measurements.

One hundred and sixty mandibular sites were examined for morphology and morphometric analysis of mental foramen. The shape, position and type of mental foramen was determined. The shape of the mental foramen was classified either as oval or round shape as described by Lacerda et al.^[5] and was correlated with age and gender. The position of the mental foramen was assessed as given by Ngeow et al.^[6] The radiographic appearance of the mental foramen was analysed as classified by Yosue et al.^[7] The sample was subjected to intra and inter examiner variability.

Results

Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were carried out in this study. Results on categorical variables (such as age, gender, dentition status, shape, position and type of mental foramen) are presented as numbers and percentages. Results on continuous measurements (mesiodistal, buccolingual and superoinferior dimension, distance from the crest and length of anterior loop) are presented as mean and standard deviation. The level of significance (p-value) was set at p < 0.05. Right and left sides of the mandible of 80 subjects (40 males, 40 females) i.e., a total of 160 mandibular sites were examined for assessing the morphology and morphometry of mental foramen. Based on the age, the study group was divided into 4 subgroups as follows:

Group I – 21 to 30 years

Group II – 31 to 40 years

Group III – 41 to 50 years

Group IV – 51 to 60 years ([Table 1])

Each of these groups has 20 subjects and equal number of males and females i.e., 10 males and 10 females in each group. Among the 160 mandibular sites, 119 were dentulous, 13 were partially edentulous in the region of premolars and 14 were completely edentulous ([Figure 1] ).

Morphology of The Mental Foramen

Morphometric Analysis of Mental Foramen

Discussion

Treatment planning for mandibular surgical procedures is often complicated by the unknown location and extent of anatomical structures. One such anatomical structure is mental foramen and its anterior loop. It is essential to define the exact location of the mental foramen and to consider the possibility of anterior loop of mental nerve located mesial to the mental foramen to avoid potential injury to the neurovascular bundle during surgical procedures in the mandibular interforaminal region.

Procedures such as placement of dental implants, osteotomy, bone harvesting, although considered to be safe elective procedures, sensory disturbances have been reported as a complication in upto 31% of patients in the first two weeks following surgery, with 10-15% of patients continuing to complain of sensory disturbances even up to 15 months after procedure.^[8]

This radiographic study was aimed to evaluate the morphology and morphometric dimensions of mental foramen and the anterior loop with an objective to assess their variations among Indian population. This study also assessed the dimorphic variations of mental foramen and its anterior loop with respect to gender and laterality using cone beam computed tomography.

In present study, the shape, position and type of mental foramen were assessed according to the criteria suggested by Lacerda R et al,^[5] Ngeow et al,^[6] Yosue T et al.^[7] respectively.

In this study, the most frequent position of MF was position 4 (64.70%) followed by position 3 (26.89%) and position 1 and position 6 was not seen in any of the images. There was no statistically significant difference between gender (p=0.2) and age (p = 0.2) ([Table 4], [Table 5]). Our results are in concordance with studies done by Parnia F et al,^[9] Sheiki M et al,^[10] Juan CP et al,^[11] Genu PR et al, ^[12] Ebrahimi M et al,^[13] Saito K et al,^[14] Panjnoush M et al. ^[15] and Chandra et al.^[16] However, studies done by von Arx T et al,^[16] Gungor E et al.^[17] showed that position 3 was most common.

In our study, the most frequent radiographic appearance of mental foramen was diffuse type (37.5%) and in none of the cases it was unidentified type. There was no significant difference in terms of age and gender ([Table 6], [Table 7]).

The present study measured the horizontal and vertical diameter of the mental foramen. The horizontal dimension of the mental foramen was measured using the mesiodistal and buccolingual dimension of mental foramen whereas the vertical diameter was measured by taking superoinferior dimension.

The mean mesiodistal dimension of MF in our study were 2.93 ± 0.86 mm and 2.85 ± 0.86 mm on right and left side respectively ([Table 8]). There was no statistical difference with respect to age (p = 0.03). However, on the right side of the arch it was noted that the mean mesiodistal dimension was greater in males as compared to females (p = 0.025) whereas on the left side, there was no significant difference in terms of gender. These dimensions were similar to the studies done by von Arx T et al,^[16] but studies done by Kalender et al,^[18] Gungor et al.^[17] and Çaglayan et al.^[19] showed higher horizontal diameter than that seen our study. In the present study, the mean buccolingual dimensions were 2.53 ± 0.69 and 2.35 ± 0.74 mm on right and left side respectively ([Table 8]). There was no significant difference in the buccolingual dimension and age of the patient. There was statistically significant difference seen in buccolingual dimension among different genders. It was noted that males had slightly higher dimension as compared to females on both right side (p= 0.001) and left side (p= 0.007).

The mean superoinferior dimensions of MF were 2.71 ± 0.67 mm and 2.95 ± 0.79 mm on right and left side respectively ([Table 8]). There was no statistical difference with regards to age (p = 0.3). These dimensions were similar to the studies done by von Arx et al,^[16] but studies done by Kalender et al,^[18] Gungor et al.^[17] showed higher vertical diameter than our study.

Results obtained from our study showed that size of mental foramen on left side was slightly larger than the right side which is analogous to the study done by Phillips et al.^[2] On the other hand, Yosue T et al.^[7] reported that there is no significant difference in the diameter of mental foramen with respect to laterality.

In our study, the mean distance from mental foramen and alveolar crest were 11.13 ± 3.40 mm and 10.79 ± 3.21 mm on right and left side respectively ([Table 8]). It was noted that MF-C was highest among the group I and lowest among group IV, and there was statistically significant difference on left side of the arch (p= 0.02). The mean distance was higher among males than females but was not statistically significant. This was in accordance to the studies done by von Arx T et al.^[16] In our study, the distance between MF-C was less in older age groups which was similar to the previous studies done by Gungor et al,^[17] von Arx T et al,^[16] This may be attributed to the loss of teeth which in turn leads to resorption of alveolar bone hence, mental foramen is located closer to the alveolar crest as age progresses.

The dimensions of the mental foramen found in our study has positive correlation with those of some studies but has differences from some other studies. Hence, the dimensions of the mental foramen are specific to ethnicity and gender.

To the best of our knowledge, this seems to be one of the few studies to examine the radiographic type of mental foramen using cone beam computed tomography, which also measured the other horizontal dimension of mental foramen i.e. the buccolingual dimension. Hence, these findings could be used in future studies with larger samples to make more accurate analysis.

The data was subjected to intra and inter examiner variability. Statistical analysis showed there was no significant difference in the intra as well as inter examiner observations. Therefore, it can be inferred that there is good intra and inter examiner reliability suggesting that measurements made on CBCT images are accurate and reproducible.

Conclusion

To conclude, the morphology of the mental foramen showed variations among the gender and age in Indian population. The morphometric values of the mental foramen showed variability of 1-2 mm among different subjects of our population. Hence, treatment planning that involves the interforaminal region of the mandible should be carried out on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate location and dimension of mental foramen. A good intra and inter examiner reliability was observed in our study, suggesting that measurements made on CBCT images are accurate and reproducible.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.