Introduction:

The mentonian foramen is a crucial structure located in the anterior part of the mandible, particularly significant in surgical procedures involving the mandible, especially within the interforaminal area. Consequently, for a more precise analysis of this anatomical structure, Cone Beam CT scans are employed. This imaging technique offers a three-dimensional image of superior quality of the maxillofacial complex, devoid of overlapping images, geometric distortions, and false negatives. Such clarity is essential for minimizing the risk of iatrogenic lesions.

Objective:

To determine the distance from the mentonian foramen to the alveolar ridge and the mandibular base using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in dentate patients.

Methodology:

The study was descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective. A total of 109 Cone Beam Computed Tomography scans of dentate patients were evaluated from March to October 2020, taken from the Maxillofacial Diagnostic Institute (IDM) in Lima, Peru. The participants were between 18 and 50 years old and were distributed into three age groups: 18 to 28 years old, 29 to 39 years old, and 40 to 50 years old.

The analysis focused on the distances from the upper edge of the mentonian foramen to the alveolar ridge and from the lower edge of the mentonian foramen to the mandibular base, taking into account sex and age group. For statistical analysis, SPSS Statistics version 26.0 was used. The t-test for related samples was applied to evaluate differences between the right and left sides, the independent t-test to analyze measures between male and female sexes, and one-way ANOVA for the analysis across age groups. All tests were conducted at a significance level of 5%.

Results:

The mentonian foramen is closer to the mandibular base than to the alveolar ridge, with mean distances of 13.81mm and 14mm, respectively. The average distance was shorter in the 40 to 50 years age group, and females presented shorter distances.

Conclusion:

The mentonian foramen is positioned 13.81mm above the mandibular base. The greatest distances were found in males, while the shortest distances were observed in the 40 to 50 years age group.

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