VISIBILITY AND MORPHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE MANDIBULAR INCISIVE CANAL AND THE ANTERIOR LOOP OF THE MENTAL NERVE BY CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Resumen

Objectives

The present study aimed to evaluate cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients who spontaneously sought a diagnostic imaging service for different reasons, comparing the mandibular incisor canal (MIC) and the anterior loop of the mental nerve (ALMN) measurements in dentate and edentulous patients.

Methods

Cross-sectional observational study was carried out in which the prevalence of morphometric characteristics was evaluated, measuring the values of the ALMN, the MIC, and the mental foramen (MF) in the course of the mandibular canal, correlating them with the gender and age of the patients evaluated. Quantitative data were subjected to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, and cross-checks with parametric data were subjected to the Student t-test or ANOVA/Bonferroni and non-parametric Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn tests. Categorical data were expressed as absolute and percentage frequency and compared using Fisher's exact test or Pearson's chi-square test.

Results

The study evaluated 97 patients, 61 (62.9%) females and 36 (37.1%) males. The mean age of the patients was 52±12, with 17 (17.9%) patients between 20-40 years, 51 (53.7%) between 40 and 60 years, and 27 (28.4%) over 60 years.

Conclusion

The diameter of the MF, the extensions of the MIC and ALMN, and the bone height below and above the MF, did not show differences between the sides and that the factors of gender and age interfered in the height of bone near the MF. Regardless of region, patients who lost more than three teeth in the mandible had less available bone height below and above the MF.