Abstract
BACKGROUND: The anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve is the portion of the nerve that is located anterior to the mental foramen before it exits the canal. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the research was to assess anterior loop in the Odisha population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this study, a random selection of 100 CBCT scans representing 200 hemi-mandibles was made. Descriptive statistics were used to compute the distribution of the mental nerve pattern according to gender, age, and the presence or absence of dysplastic features. Frequency and percentages were then used to show the results. RESULTS: There was significant difference among male and female on left and right side for anterior loop. 28% of studied population had loop and 72% without loop out of 100 participants. Pattern III was common type followed by patter I. Right side had slightly more loop than left side. Loop length distribution was significant. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that loop is a common finding; hence it must be evaluated before doing any surgical procedure in that anatomical location.