Evaluation of the mental foramen and accessory mental foramen in Turkish patients using cone-beam computed tomography images reconstructed from a volumetric rendering program.

This study determined the occurrence and location of the mental foramen (MF) and accessory mental foramen (AMF) in Turkish patients using cone-beam computed-tomography (CBCT) with 3D-imaging software. CBCT scans of 386 sites in 193 (92 male, 101 female) patients were retrospectively analyzed to determine MF and AMF occurrence, sizes, and locations. Digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data were transferred to surface-rendering software to generate 3D images. Distances between the MF and AMF and from both foramina to the alveolar ridge and to the closest tooth were measured. Differences in AMF incidence by sex, side, and location were evaluated using chi-squared tests, and MF and AMF measurements were evaluated using Mann-Whitney U-tests. AMFs were observed in 6.5% of patients and were most commonly in an anteroinferior location. Mean AMF size did not differ significantly by sex or side [males: horizontal = 1.5 mm (1.0-2.4 mm), vertical = 1.4 mm (0.8-2.4 mm); females: horizontal = 1.5 mm (0.8-3 mm), vertical = 1.3 mm (0.8-2.1 mm); P > 0.05]. Males showed significantly greater mean vertical and horizontal MF dimensions compared with females [males: horizontal = 3.9 mm (1.0-7.0 mm), vertical = 3.6 mm (1.2-7.0 mm); females: horizontal = 3.5 mm (1.3-5.6 mm), vertical = 3.3 mm (0.8-5.8 mm); P < 0.05]. Awareness of the AMF is important to avoid mental nerve damage during surgical intervention and anesthetic applications. CBCT is useful for AMF detection, distributes less ionizing radiation, and allows 3D imaging.