Analysis of the Mental Foramen and Inferior Alveolar Canal pattern based on CBCT data

The mental foramen is located in a position where certain dental procedures may cause inadvertent damage to the nerve and lead disorders of sensory functions such as altered sensa¬tion, complete numbness, neuropathic pain, which are uncommon but severe treatment complications with significant medico-legal implications. Hence thorough knowledge its anatomical relation surrounding structures critical while undertaking procedures. To investigate size, shape, (MF), distance from adjacent teeth mandibular borders, pattern inferior alveolar canal using CBCT Indian subpopulation. This was retrospective, cross-sectional study evaluated 310 scans (179 males, 131 females) axial, sagittal, coronal planes. were evaluated, mapped measured for all parameters listed above based on age sex. Data analyzed ANOVA, independent‘t-test, chi-square test. size MF independent sex; most frequent shape Type III (round); location below apex second premolar (p>0.05). nearest root decreased an increase more females than males Inferior Alveolar Nerve Canal (IAC) perpendicular, linear patterns exit at common anterior loops groups.