Assessing the Prevalence and Length of the Anterior Loop of Inferior Alveolar Nerve and the Position and Dimension of Mental Foramen Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

TL;DR

This study uses cone beam CT scans to examine the anterior loop of a jaw nerve and the position of a mental foramen, finding gender and age-related differences.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the prevalence and dimensions of the anterior loop and mental foramen using CBCT, with gender and age variations.

Findings

Anterior loop prevalence was higher in males than females and decreased with age.

The mental foramen was most commonly located below the second premolar apex in both genders.

Right-side anterior loop length was greater than left-side in different age groups.

Abstract

Background

To prevent harm to the neurovascular bundle during clinical and surgical operations, it is crucial to understand the position and dimension of the mental foramen, as well as the prevalence and length of the anterior loop (AL).

Methods

An iCAT Vision (CT Dent, London, UK) was used to take a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan. Measurement of height, length of anterior loop, position and width of mental foramen was examined.

Results

Assessed prevalence of anterior loop and saw difference among genders, which was found to be more among males than females; anterior loop decreased as age advances. Mean anterior loop length of study subjects in different age group on right side was more than the left side, and the most common location of the mental foramen (61.87% in females and 61.36% in males) is located below the apex of the second premolar. The mean value of the distance from inferior border was 9.72mm in females and 10.78mm in males.

Conclusion

The current study was done with all of these characteristics in mind to assess the effectiveness of CBCT in determining anterior looping of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and the position and dimension of mental foramen. In more than half of the cases analyzed, an anterior loop was discovered.

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