Morphometric Analysis of Mental Foramen Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in a Sample of the Erbil Population

Volume 12 , Issue 2 , August 2025 , Pages 1-10

Authors

Rebaz Ismail 1 ; Jafar Naghshbandi 1 ; Anwar Bataineh 2 ; Alisir Babakuliyev 3 ; Mahmoud Mohsin 4 ; Abdulla Nakshbandi 5

1 Periodontics Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq.

2 Oral Surgery Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq.

3 Endodontics Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq.

4 Orthodontics Department, College of Dentistry, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.

5 Sciences Department, West Coast University, Lost Angeles, USA

DOI logo 10.17656/sdj.10205

Keywords

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to analyze the mental foramen (MF) morphometric characteristics using Cone Beam Computed Tomography and compare its location based on gender differences in the Erbil population.
Methods: The study included 52 Cone-Beam Computed Tomography scans. The following aspects were assessed: the position of the mental foramen (MF) in relation to the lower teeth, the distance of the mental foramen from the midline of the mandible, the distance of the mental foramen from the inferior border of the mandible, and the vertical and transverse distances of the mental foramen.
Results: The study identified significant gender differences in the location of the mental foramen. Males had a greater distance from the mental foramen to the midline of the mandible on the left side (25.49 mm vs. 24.04 mm) and a greater distance from the mental foramen to the inferior border of the mandible on the right side (14.03 mm vs. 12.84 mm). The transverse distance of the mental foramen was also larger in males on the left side (4.47 mm vs. 3.84 mm). The mental foramen was most located between the first and second premolars. Significant differences were observed in the mental foramen’s position between the right and left sides.
Conclusions: The findings highlight significant gender-based variations in the location of the mental foramen, which can influence clinical approaches in dental and surgical procedures.

References

  1. Weaker F. Structures of the Head and Neck. 1st ed. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company; 2014. p. 39.
  2. Pelé A, Berry PA, Evanno C, Jordana F. Evaluation of mental foramen with cone beam computed tomography: a systematic review of literature. Radiol Res Pract. 2021;6;2021:8897275.
  3. Abu-Ta’a MF, Qubain KJ, Beshtawi KR. The mental foramen, anatomical parameters through a radiographic approach to aid in dental implantology: A retrospective analysis in a sample of a Palestinian population. Heliyon. 2023;22;9(3):e13886.
  4. Greenstein G, Tarnow D. The mental foramen and nerve: clinical and anatomical factors related to dental implant placement: a literature review. J Periodontol. 2006;77(12):1933-43.
  5. Muinelo-Lorenzo J, Suárez-Quintanilla JA, Fernández-Alonso A, Varela-Mallou J, Suárez-Cunqueiro MM. Anatomical characteristics and visibility of mental foramen and accessory mental foramen: Panoramic radiography vs. cone beam CT. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2015;20(6):e707-14.
  6. Imada TSN, Fernandes LMP da SR, Centurion BS, de Oliveira-Santos C, Honório HM, Rubira-Bullen IRF. Accessory mental foramina: prevalence, position and diameter assessed by cone-beam computed tomography and digital panoramic radiographs. Clinical Oral Implants Research. 2014;25(2):e94-9.
  7. Greenstein G, Tarnow D. The mental foramen and nerve: clinical and anatomical factors related to dental implant placement: a literature review. J Periodontol. 2006;77(12):1933-43.
  8. Neiva RF, Gapski R, Wang HL. Morphometric analysis of implant-related anatomy in Caucasian skulls. J Periodontol. 2004;75(8):1061-7.
  9. Dos Santos Oliveira R, Rodrigues Coutinho M, Kühl Panzarella F. Morphometric analysis of the mental foramen using cone-beam computed tomography. Int J Dent. 2018 26;2018:4571895.
  10. Paraskevas G, Mavrodi A, Natsis K. Accessory mental foramen: an anatomical study on dry mandibles and review of the literature. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015 ;19(2):177-81.
  11. Voljevica A, Talović E, Hasanović A. Morphological and morphometric analysis of the shape, position, number and size of mental foramen on human mandibles. Acta Med Acad. 2015;44(1):31-8.
  12. Gupta T. Localization of important facial foramina encountered in maxillo-facial surgery. Clin Anat. 2008;21(7):633-40.
  13. Cellina M, Martinenghi C, De Nardi S, Palamenghi A, Cè M, Sforza C, et al. Anatomy of the mental foramen: relationship among different metrical parameters for accurate localization. Applied Sciences. 2023;13(16):9235.
  14. Kawai T, Sato I, Asaumi R, Yosue T. Cone-beam computed tomography and anatomical observations of normal variants in the mandible: variant dentists should recognize. Oral Radiol. 2018;34(3):189-98.
  15. Da Silva Ramos Fernandes LMP, Capelozza ALÁ, Rubira-Bullen IRF. Absence and hypoplasia of the mental foramen detected in CBCT images: a case report. Surg Radiol Anat. 2011;33(8):731-4.
  16. Mohammed D. Anthropometric dimensions of nasopalatine canal measured by cone beam computed tomography among kurdish population. Sulaimani Dental Journal. 2016;3(2):90-7.
  17. Ghimire B, Gupta S. Location of mental foramen in dentate adults using orthopantomogram. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2018;56(212):791-5.
  18. Mahabob MN, Sukena SA, Otaibi ARMA, Bello SM, Fathima AM. Assessment of the mental foramen location in a sample of Saudi Al Hasa, population using cone-beam computed tomography technology: A retrospective study. J Oral Res. 2021;30;10(3):1-9.
  19. Muinelo-Lorenzo J, Fernández-Alonso A, Smyth-Chamosa E, Suárez-Quintanilla JA, Varela-Mallou J, Suárez-Cunqueiro MM. Predictive factors of the dimensions and location of mental foramen using cone beam computed tomography. PLoS One. 2017;17;12(8):e0179704.
  20. Sheikhi M, Kheir MK. CBCT Assessment of mental foramen position relative to anatomical landmarks. international journal of dentistry. 2016;2016(1):5821048.
  21. Agthong S, Huanmanop T, Chentanez V. Anatomical variations of the supraorbital, infraorbital, and mental foramina related to gender and side. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2005;63(6):800-4.
  22. Nimigean V, Gherghiţă OR, Păun DL, Bordea EN, Pellegrini A, Cismaş SC, et al. Morphometric study for the localization of the mental foramen in relation to the vertical reference plane. Rom J Morphol Embryol. 2022;63(1):161-8.
  23. Singh P, Adhikari B, Koju S, Gupta S, Pradhan M, Gurung D, et al. Mean distance of mental foramen from inferior border of mandible among patients visiting the outpatient dental department in a tertiary care centre. J Nepal Med Ass. 2023;1;61(266):787-90.
  24. Aytugar E, Özeren C, Lacin N, Veli I, Çene E. Cone-beam computed tomographic evaluation of accessory mental foramen in a Turkish population. Anat Sci Int. 2019;94(3):257-65.
  25. Zmyslowska-Polakowska E, Radwanski M, Ledzion S, Leski M, Zmyslowska A, Lukomska-Szymanska M. Evaluation of size and location of a mental foramen in the polish population using cone-beam computed tomography. Biomed Res Int. 2019;2019:1659476.
  26. Ilayperuma I, Nanayakkara G, Palahepitiya N. Morphometric analysis of the mental foramen in adult sri lankan mandibles. Int J Morph. 2009;27(4):1019-24.
  27. Dos Santos Oliveira R, Rodrigues Coutinho M, Kühl Panzarella F. Morphometric analysis of the mental foramen using cone-beam computed tomography. Int J Dent. 2018;26;2018:4571895.
  28. Goyushov S, Tözüm MD, Tözüm TF. Assessment of morphological and anatomical characteristics of mental foramen using cone beam computed tomography. Surg Radiol Anat. 2018;40(10):1133- Morphometric Analysis of Mental Foramen Sulaimani Dent. J. August 2025.
  29. Costa Mendes L, Delrieu J, Gillet C, Telmon N, Maret D, Savall F. Sexual dimorphism of the mandibular conformational changes in aging human adults: A multislice computed tomographic study by geometric morphometrics. PLoS One. 2021;22;16(6):e0253564.
  30. Lin TH, Hughes T, Meade MJ. The genetic and environmental contributions to variation in the permanent dental arch form: a twin study. Eur J Orthod. 2023;45(6):868-74.
  31. Mahmood MA, Rauf AM, Kareem FA, Abdalrahim RH, Ahmed WT, Omer SN. Determination of mandibular arch form during mixed dentition using custom-made template in Sulaimani Governorate. Sulaimani Dent J. 2021;8(1):55-60.
Statistics
  • Article view911
  • Downloads21
  • First online1 August 2025
  • Published at1 August 2025

  • RIS
  • BibTeX
  • EndNote
  • Mendeley
  • APA (7th edition)
  • MLA (9th edition)
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • IEEE
  • Vancouver