Morphometric analysis of the mandibular lingual foramina using cone-beam computed tomography in elderly Korean / Análisis morfométrico de los forámenes linguales mandibulares mediante tomografía computarizada de haz cónico en adultos mayores coreanos

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to determine the morphologic characteristics of the lingual foramen and lateral lingual foramen using cone-beam CT in elderly Korean. Cone-beam CT images were obtained from 80 Korean older than 50 years (mean age, 65.2 years). The prevalence of the lingual and lateral lingual foramina at the lingual aspect of the mandible was determined. The diameter and height to the upper margin of the foramina from the mandibular inferior margin, and the bone height to the alveolar crest from the mandibular inferior margin were measured. In addition, the location of the lateral lingual foramen, the direction of its canal, and the presence of communication with the mandibular canal were evaluated. All of elderly Korean possessed at least one lingual foramen, with two or three foramina occurring in 77.5 % of Korean. A lateral lingual foramen was observed in 91.3 % of Korean, with the prevalence being highest at the second premolar in dentulous cases (21.6 %; 33/153). The very high frequencies of these foramina were attributable to high frequencies of relatively small-diameter inferior lingual foramen and lateral lingual foramen in the incisor region. The prevalence of a large-diameter (≥1 mm) superior lingual foramen was high, at 31.0 %. A large-diameter lateral lingual foramen in the premolar region occurred at a frequency of 17.0 %; communication with the mandibular canal was observed in 70.0 % of these cases. These quantitative data on the lingual and lateral lingual foramina of the mandible provide valuable information that could help to avoid surgical complications during implant placement in elderly Korean.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las características morfológicas del foramen lingual y del foramen lingual lateral mediante TC de haz cónico en adultos mayores coreanos. Se obtuvieron imágenes de TC de haz cónico de 80 coreanos mayores de 50 años (edad media, 65,2 años). Se determinó la prevalencia de los forámenes linguales y linguales laterales en la cara lingual de la mandíbula. Se midió el diámetro y la altura hasta el margen superior de los forámenes desde el margen inferior mandibular, y la altura ósea hasta la cresta alveolar desde el margen inferior mandibular. Además, se evaluó la ubicación del foramen lingual lateral, la dirección de su canal y la presencia de comunicación con el canal mandibular. Todos los adultos mayores coreanos tenían al menos un foramen lingual, con dos o tres forámenes en el 77,5 %. Se observó un foramen lingual lateral en el 91,3 %, siendo la prevalencia más alta en el segundo premolar en casos dentados (21,6 %; 33/ 153). Las mayores frecuencias de estos forámenes se atribuyeron a altas frecuencias de foramen lingual inferior y foramen lingual lateral de diámetro relativamente pequeño en la región de los incisivos. La prevalencia de un foramen lingual superior de gran diámetro (≥1 mm) fue alta, del 31,0 %. Un foramen lingual lateral de gran diámetro en la región premolar ocurrió con una frecuencia del 17,0 %; se observó comunicación con el canal mandibular en el 70,0 % de estos casos. Estos datos cuantitativos sobre los forámenes linguales y linguales laterales de la mandíbula proporcionan información valiosa que podría ayudar a evitar complicaciones quirúrgicas durante la colocación de implantes en adultos mayores coreanos.

A Limited Field Cone-beam Computed Tomography-based Evaluation of the Mental Foramen, Accessory Mental Foramina, Anterior Loop, Lateral Lingual Foramen, and Lateral Lingual Canal.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate the cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT)-based characteristics of the mental foramen (MF), accessory mental foramen (AMF), anterior loop (AL), lateral lingual foramen (LLF), lateral lingual canal (LLC) and to explore any relationships between their characteristics. METHODS: The location and dimension of the MF; the incidence, location, and dimension of the AMF along with its distance to the MF; the presence and dimension of the AL; and the presence, location, angle of entry of the LLF and LLC, and its relation with the mandibular canal (MC) were evaluated in 109 CBCT scans. The data were analyzed descriptively, and associations were tested using the chi-square and analysis of variance tests. RESULTS: The MF was most frequently located between the first and second mandibular premolar teeth (43.5%) or below the second premolar (34.3%). The mean horizontal dimension of the MF was 3.1 mm, the vertical dimension was 2.8 mm, and the mean vertical distance from the alveolar crest was 14.2 mm. An AMF was observed in 12.8% of cases with a mean distance of 4.1 mm from the MF. An AL was present in 47.2% of cases with a mean loop length of 3.38 mm. An LLF was present in 20.4% of cases, predominantly below the first premolar (27.3%) with a mean angle of entry of 148°. The LLC always communicated with the MC and generally not with the tooth apex. A statistically significant association existed between the presence of the LLF and AMF. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomic complexity of the MF region was confirmed; hence, CBCT-based evaluation is essential before surgical exploration of this region.

Anatomical relationship between the sublingual fossa and the lateral lingual foramen.

This study investigated the locational relationship between the sublingual fossa (SF) and the lateral lingual foramen (LLF) in order to gain useful knowledge so that perforation of the lingual cortical bone and damage to the adjacent blood vessels can be avoided when placing an endosseous implant (implant) in the mandibular interforaminal region. The deepest point of the SF (SFP) and the LLF were identified in 38 Japanese cadaver mandibles (20 edentulous and 18 dentate) by computed tomography (CT) and physical measurement. Their locations were measured. In the edentulous cases, the SFP was located approximately 15 mm vertically from the alveolar crest in the direction of the mandibular lower margin in the canine and premolar regions, and the LLF was located within a 5mm radius from the SFP. Thus, significant attention to the locational relationship between the SFP and the LLF, as seen on preoperative CT, is required when placing an implant ≥3.75 mm in diameter and ≥15 mm in length in this region.

Forâmen lingual lateral – relato de dois casos clínicos através da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico / Lateral lingual foramina (LLF) – two case reports with the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)

O reconhecimento do forâmen lingual lateral (FLL) e muito importante, especialmente na implantodontia. Assim, a tomografia computadorizada feixe cônico (TCFC) permite a visualização de estruturas anatômicas nao detectadas na radiografia convencional, com o FLL. Este artigo relata dois casos de FLL ambos no lado direito em dois pacientes distintos. Ambos os exames foram obtidos pelo I-Cat e avaliados no programa I-Cat Vision. A injúria aos vasos que atravessam a FLL pode causar hematoma no assoalho bucal e, em situações mais graves, a obstrução das vias aéreas superiores

Lateral lingual foramen (LLF) recognition is very important, especially to dental implant practitioners. In this way, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows visualization of anatomic structures not detected in conventional radiography, such as LLF. This paper reports two LLF cases both at the right side in two different patients. Both exams were obtained through I-CAT Classic device and evaluated with the I-CAT Vision software. Injuries to LLF contained vascular bundles might cause hematoma at the floor of the mouth and, in worst cases, subsequent upper airway obstruction.