Assessment of different patterns of entry of mental nerve in mental foramen: A cone beam computed tomography study

M. Abidullah, P. Kaur, P. Karthikeyan, R. Kumaresan, P. Koppolu, R. Kaur

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: There is variation in the emergence of the mental nerve through the mental foramen. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is very efficient in providing variations of mental nerve. The present study was aimed to determine different patterns of the mental nerve at the mental foramen region with the help of CBCT. Materials and methods: One hundred and twenty CBCT images of patients requiring a dental implant in the mandibular premolar region were taken with the Planmeca CBCT machine. All sections were obtained. The presence of a straight pattern, an anterior loop, and a right-angled pattern was detected. Results: It included 75 males and 45 females. The difference was significant (p = 0.05). A total of 20 percent of patients exhibited an anterior loop, 72% had a straight pattern, and 8% had a right-angled pattern. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01). The straight pattern was seen in 61 males and 25 females, anterior loop in 10 males and 14 females. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01). The right-angled pattern was observed in 4 males and 6 females. A straight pattern was seen mostly (59) on the left side as compared to the right side (27), on the left side, the anterior loop was seen in 13 as compared to 11 on the right side. The right-angled pattern was seen mostly on the right side (7) as compared to the left side (3). Conclusion: Different patterns of mental nerve were observed. The most common pattern was straight followed by an anterior loop and right-angled. The three-dimensional (3D) nature of CBCT is useful in providing details. It offers less exposure to the patient as compared to computed tomography (CT). Thus, it is an effective diagnostic tool in the assessment of mental nerves. Clinical significance: The CBCT proves beneficial in assessing the different patterns of entry of mental nerves in the mental foramen. © 2018, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)382-386
Number of pages5
JournalWorld Journal of Dentistry
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

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