Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim is to assess mental foramen (MF) and anatomical variations using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in a Turkish population. METHODS: In this retrospective study, CBCT images of 301 patients (162 females, 139 males) obtained between November 2021 and February 2022 were evaluated. Patients were analyzed in 4 groups according to age (Group 1: 18-30 years, Group 2: 31-45 years, Group 3: 46-55 years, Group 4: 56 years and older). The position of the MF relative to the teeth, vertical (MFV) and horizontal (MFH) dimensions; the distances of the MF to the mandibular midline (MF-MM), ramus posterior border (MF-MP), lower border (MF-ML) and upper border (MF-MU); the presence of an accessory mental foramen (AMF); and if any, the position of the AMF relative to the MF and the distance of the AMF to the MF (MF-AMF) were recorded separately for the right and left sides. Associations with gender and age were evaluated. The independent samples t test was used to determine the relationship between the measurements and gender and the evaluation of the measurement values according to age groups. The evaluation of the location of MF according to gender and age groups was performed using the Chi-Square Test. RESULTS: On the right and left sides, MF was most commonly seen at the apical level of the second premolars (45.4% and 52.1%, respectively). MFV, MFH, MF-MM, MF-MP and MF-ML were significantly higher in males than in females, p < 0.001 on both sides and for each parameter. There was a significant difference between the age groups for MF-MU and MF-ML on the right side, MF-MU on the left side (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). A total of 42 AMFs were seen in 39 (13%) of the 301 patients. AMFs were frequently located posteroinferior to the MFs (35.5%). The mean MF-AMF was 7.83 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature on the anatomy and variations of MF. The results of this study show that the prevalence of AMF in the Turkish population studied is high at 13%.