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. 2020 Dec 31;11(4):e4.
doi: 10.5037/jomr.2020.11404. eCollection 2020 Oct-Dec.

Anatomical Variation in the Mandibular Foramen in Non-Atrophic and Atrophic Mandibles

Marcelo Betti Mascaro  1 , Lara Cristina Picoli  1 , Stefany Torres Reis Matos  1 , Silvana Carla Sipos Lotaif  1 , Mônica Rodrigues De Souza  1 , Marcelo Ferreira Calderon  1
Affiliations

Anatomical Variation in the Mandibular Foramen in Non-Atrophic and Atrophic Mandibles

Marcelo Betti Mascaro et al. J Oral Maxillofac Res. .

Abstract

Objectives: Previous studies of variation in mandibular foramen characteristics with age have involved comparison in different populations, but few data, between non-atrophic and atrophic mandibles are available. The aim of this original article was to compare the position, shape and area of the mandibular foramen between non-atrophic and atrophic mandibles.

Material and methods: Morphometric methods were used to study the mandibular foramen variation. Fifty adult dry mandibles from the laboratory of anatomy were selected. Mandibles were considered non-atrophic if the distance between the base and alveolar ridge was homogeneous and greater than 25 mm in the anterior region and 20 mm in the posterior region. Conversely, mandibles were considered atrophic if that distances were lower than those described to a minimum of 11 mm in all areas. All measurements were performed with a digital caliper. For statistical analysis, the admitted level of significance was 5%.

Results: When non-atrophic mandibles were compared to atrophic ones, the mandibular foramen shifted significantly to an anterior position (mean difference [MD]: 4.81 mm; P < 0.0001) and to an inferior position (MD: 3.04 mm; P < 0.0001) and changed from an elliptical shape to round one, with a significant decrease in its area (MD: 3.66 mm2; P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The results indicate that there are significant differences in the position, shape and area of the mandibular foramen between non-atrophic and atrophic mandibles. These data should be considered in anaesthetic techniques and surgical procedures to prevent vascular and nervous lesions.

Keywords: anatomy; atrophy; humans; mandible; mental foramen.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison between non-atrophic and atrophic mandibles. A = points for measurement represented in a non-atrophic mandible; B = average decrease of the mandibular body represented in an atrophic mandible.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mandibular foramen: position, shape and area. A = Position of the mandibular foramen to specific points of the ramus in a non-atrophic mandible; B = Average decrease of the measurements in an atrophic mandible; C = Representation of the shape of the foramen in both groups and average decrease of its area. AM = anterior margin of the ramus; IM = inferior margin of the ramus; MF = mandibular foramen; PM = posterior margin of the ramus; SM = superior margin of the ramus.
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