• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.933-948
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to examine the anatomic structures of the mandible-inferior alveolar canal, mental foramen, mental canal-with panoramic radiography and conventional tomography and to compare both radiographic techniques in conjunction with endosseous implants. In this study 14 adult dentulous mandibles -27 cases of right and left side of mandibles- were examined and the results were as follows. 1. The distance between superior border of the inferior alveolar canal and the alveolar ridge crest showed a decreasing tendency from the mental foramen to 4cm posterior to the mental foramen. 2. The mean diameter of the inferior alveolar canal was $4.11{\pm}0.50mm$ with panoramic radiography and $3.29{\pm}0.59mm$ with conventional tomography. 3. The inferior border of the inferior alveolar canal and inferior border of the mandible was closest at 2cm posterior to the mental foramen but it was not statistically significant. the mean distance was $1l.64{\pm}2.95mm$ in panoramic radiography and $1l.68{\pm} 2.91mm$ in conventional tomography. 4. The inferior alveolar canal located lingually in bucco-lingual direction 16%(mental foramen), 54%(lcm posterior to the mental foramen), 68%(2cm posterior to the mental foramen), 50%(3cm posterior to mental foramen), 55%(4cm posterior to the mental foramen). 5. Mean length of the anterior loop of the mental canal was 2.73mm, and the loop below 2mm was 35% and 15% of mental canal was invisible in panoramic radiography. 6. The minimum interforaminal distance was 56.7mm, the maximum distance was 73.2mm and the mean distance was 66.42mm in panoramic radiography. 7. The mean distance between midpoint of the mental canal and alveolar ridge crest was 16.24mm and the mean buccolingual angulation of the mental canal was $52.98^{\circ}$ in conventional tomography. 8. In comparison of panoramic radiography and conventional tomography, inferior alveolar canal is better visualized with conventional tomography than panoramic radiography from the mental foramen to the 2cm posterior to the mental foramen, while visiblity of conventional tomography prominently decreased in 4cm posterior to the mental foramen and alveolar ridge crest is better visualized with panoramic radiography than conventional radiography at the mental foramen and at 4cm posterior to the mental foramen. In radiologic examination of anatomic structures of the mandible for endosseous implants, panoramic radiography and conventional tomography can be effectively used when it is used to overcome the anatomic limitations.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.655-661
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• 2010

Objectives : This study is aimed to prevent the damage to the inferior alveolar nerve during the orthognathic surgery. Methods : The control group consist of 50 patients with class I occlusion. The experimental group consist of 50 patients with class III malocclusion. The cepalometric radiography was used to evaluate the position of the mental foramina. Results : In the first, mental foramen position of class III was more inferior 0.85 mm in the distance between base of mandible and mental foramen. But the distance between occlusal plan and mental foramen had not statistically significant. Secondly, mental foramen location of Mandibular Prognathism was more anterior 0.91 mm in the distance between coronal plane of mandible included pogonion point and mental foramen. Also, the distance of occlusal-coronal plane of mandible included central incisor and mental foramen had statistically significant. The mental foramen location of class III was more anterior 4.81 mm than class I patients. Conclusions : The result of this study could help the clinicians to apprehend fundamental data with various facial skeletal types for any related researches about the location of the mental foramina for other purposes.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2010

Purpose: The mental foramen (MF) is an important anatomical structure during local anesthesia and surgical procedures in terms of achieving effective mental nerve blocks and avoiding injuries to the neurovascular bundles. Thus, understanding the anatomic features of the mandibular canal and accessory mental foramen in Korean could contribute to the surgical anatomic assessment. This study was to elucidate frequency, position and course of AMF (accessory mental foramen) in Korean using 3D cone beam computed tomography. Materials and Methods: The CBCT (Conbeam computed tomography) DICOM data (Alphard, Asahi, Japan) from 540 patients in korean were analyzed. We investigated images of 3D CBCT using Ondemand (CyberMed, Korea) software program on the incidence and anatomical characteristics of accessory foramen. Results: The accessory mental foramina were found in 17 patients. Accessory mental foramina exist predominantly in the apical area of the second premolar and posteroinferior area of the mental foramen. The accessory branches of the mandibular canal showed common characteristics in the course of gently sloping posterosuperior direction in the buccal surface area. The size of most AMF was obviously smaller than that of MF. Conclusion: We could identify frequency, position and course of AMF (accessory mental foramen) by the anatomical study of the accessory mental foramen using 3D cone beam CT in Korean.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.501-511
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the position and shape of mental foramen in periapical radiographs. For this study, periapical radiographs of premolar areas were obtained from the 200 adults. Accordingly, the positional and shape changes of mental foramen were evaluated. The authors obtained radiographs according to changes in radiation beam direction in periapical radiographs of premolar areas, and then evaluated the positional and shape changes of mental foramen. The following results were obtained: 1. Shapes of mental foramen were observed elliptical(34.3％), round or oval(28.0％), unidentified(25.5％) and diffuse(12.2％) type in descending order of frequency. 2. Horizontal positions of mental foramen were most frequently observed at the 2nd premolar area(55.3％), the area between the 1st premolar and 2nd premolar(39.6％), the area between the 2nd premolar and 1st molar(3.4％), the 1st premolar area(1.0％), the area between the canine and 1st premolar(0.7％) in descending order of frequency. 3. Vertical positions of mental foramen were most frequently observed at the inferior to apex(67.1％), and at apex(24.8％), overlap with apex(6.4％), superior to apex(1.7％) in descending order of frequency. 4. Shapes of mental foramen were more obviously observed at the upward 10° positioned periapical radiographs. And according to the changes of horizontal and vertical position, they were observed similar to normally positioned periapical radiographs.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the anteroposterior length and buccal angle of the anterior loop, and the size and location of the mental foramen using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: 100 CBCT images from 87 adults (43 males and 44 females) ranging in age from 20 to 73 years (average 50 years) with edentulous ridge of the mandibular premolar region were obtained. Axial, sagittal, coronal images were reconstructed from Dental and Block Images of CBCT. The anteroposterior length, shape and buccal angle of the anterior loop, and the size and location of the mental foramen were calculated from reconstructed images of axial, sagittal and coronal CBCT. Results: The anteroposterior length and buccal angle of the mental canal was 4.0${\pm}$1.2mm, 37.8${\pm}$11.60$^{\circ}$respectively. The loop type with straight course was the most common shape of the mental canal. The location of the mental foramen below the apex of the lower second premolar (78%) was the most common. The maximum size of the mental foramen was 4.6${\pm}$1.0 mm in width and 3.0${\pm}$0.6 mm in height. The inner size of the mental canal was 2.6${\pm}$0.6 mm in width and 2.1 mm${\pm}$0.4 mm in height. Conclusion: CBCT is useful to evaluate the anterior loop and mental foramen of the mandibular canal. Safe guideline of 4 mm from the most anterior point of the mental foramen is recommended for implant and surgical treatment. (Korean J Oral Maxillofac Radiol 2009; 39: 81-7)

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2009

Purpose: To assess the angle between mandibular canal and occlusal plane at each posterior tooth region and location of mental foramen on the panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: This study analysed 46 half-mandibles of panoramic radiographs. Inferior border of mandibular canal was traced. Occlusal plane was drawn from lingual cusp tip of the first premolar to distolingual cusp tip of the second molar. Perpendicular line from occlusal plane was drawn at each tooth region and then tangential lines were drawn from the crossing points at canal. the angle between occlusal plane and tangential line was measured. The location of mental foramen was also studied. According to the location of mental foramen, radiographs were divided into M (mesial) group and D (distal) group on the basis of the second premolar. and then inter-group analysis about mandibular canal angle was done. Results: The angles of mandibular canals were -17.7$^{\circ}$, -9.5$^{\circ}$, 8.2$^{\circ}$, 22.3$^{\circ}$, and 39.2$^{\circ}$at first premolar, second premolar, first molar, second molar, and third molar, respectively. The commonest position of the mental foramen was distal to the second premolar. Inter-group comparison showed statistically significant difference at the second premolar and the first molar(p<0.001). Conclusion: The knowledge of mandibular canal angle and location of mental foramen can help understanding the course of mandibular canal. (Korean J Oral Maxillofac Radiol 2009; 39: 89-92)

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1978

The purpose of this study is to obtain the enshortening and elongation rate of image in orthopantomograph. The subjects were consisted of 15 dry skulls attached with radiopaque materials on each anatomical points. The length measurements were performed between two points on dry skull, and between two points on film. The results are as follows: 1. The enshortening and elongation rate between two anatomical points (1) ANS↔infraorbital foramen (left:+1.3%, right:+0.7%) (2) ANS↔maxillary tuberosity(left:-11.7%, right:-14.3%) (3) Zygomatic arch length(left:-4.8%, right:-8.9%) (4) first molar↔infraorbital foramen (left:+19.8%, right:+24%) (5) inter-infraorbital foramen length(-21.4%) (6) inter-first molar length (-31.8%) (7) inter-mental foramen length(+1.4%) (8) mental foramen↔mandible angle (left:+3.3%, right:+3.3%) (9) mental foramen↔lingula(left:+8.2%, right:+3.3%) (10) mental foramen↔condyle head(left:+5.2%, right:+4.5%) (11) mandible↔condyle head (left:+15.4%, right:+16.4%) 2. The closer the object is to the occlusal plane and the median line, the smaller it appears.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the position of the mental foramen relative to the apices of the teeth based on panoramic radiographs in a Moroccan population. We also analyzed gender differences and the symmetry of location within individuals. Materials and Methods: Seven hundred ninety-four panoramic radiographs were evaluated with regard to the location and symmetry of the mental foramina in male and female subjects. The results were analyzed using Pearson's ${\chi}^2$ and Fisher's exact test. Results: Of the 794 panoramic radiographs, 377 met the inclusion criteria for at least one side. The mental foramen was located just below the apex of the second premolar in 62.7% of the patients and between the first and second premolars in 30%. It was symmetrically located in 79%. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females in the position and symmetry of the mental foramen. Conclusion: The most common position for the mental foramen in this sample was in line with the second premolar.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 1972

The author measured the distance from mental foramen to the occusal plane and classified the positional frequency of mental foramen to the tooth site using topography. The results were obtained as follow; 1. Of 964 mental foramen taken, the common site was in 2nd premolar region showing 64.08 per cent in right and 57.17 per cent in left site. 2. The average distance from occlusal plane to the upper border of premolar region was 23.20㎜. and lower border was 25.07㎜. 3. The positional variation of mental foramen was 4.77 per cent were located above the apex of the nearest tooth, and 50.42 per cent were located at the apex of the nearest tooth and 44.81 per cent were located below the apex of the nearest tooth.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2007

Purpose : To determine the more valuable information to detect the mandibular canal and the mental foramen in panoramic radiographs of a selected Korean population for the implant. Materials and Methods : This study analysed 288 panoramic radiographic images of patients taken at the Dental hospital of Chosun University retrospectively. Indirect digital panoramic X-ray machine (ProlineXC, PLANMECA, Finland) with processing by using Directview $CR950^@$ (Kodak, U.S.A.) and Direct digital panoramic X-ray machine (Promax, PLANMECA, Finland) were used for all exposures. All images were converted into Dicom format. Results : The common position of the mental foramen was in line with the longitudinal axis of the second premolar (68.1%). The mental foramen was symmetrical in 81.8% of cases. The mandibular canal was not identified at anterior portion and discontinued with the mental foramen in 27.8% of all cases, in 42.4% identified with lower border line continued with the mental foramen, in 14.6% with both upper and lower border lines, and in 15.3% unilaterally identified with lower border line. Conclusion : Clinicians can estimate the upper border line of the mandibular canal from the confirmation of the mental foramen and the lower border line of the mandibular canal symmetrically on the panoramic radiography taken in adjusted midsaggital plane of patient's head.