Morphometric and morphologic evaluation of the mental foramen in relation to age and sex: an anatomic cone beam computed tomography study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the vertical and horizontal position, angle, and diameter of the mental foramen (MF) according to sex and age by cone beam computed tomography in a Turkish patient population.

METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography records of 192 consecutive patients consisting of 106 women and 86 men were examined, retrospectively. The vertical and horizontal positions of MF, angle and diameter of MF, and distance from MF to the alveolar crest and the base of the mandible were evaluated with respect to sex and age groups.

RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the distance of MF to the alveolar crest according to age groups. When we compared the right and left sides, we have only found out statistically significant differences in the angles of MF and that it was higher in the left side.

CONCLUSIONS: From our results, the detection of the position of MF can provide detailed information for preoperative treatment planning (for surgery and dental implant surgery procedures), especially in the mandibular premolar region.