Prevalence and location of the anterior lingual foramen: A cone-beam computed tomography assessment

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The anterior lingual foramen is an anatomic structure in the symphysis region of the mandible. There is little research on the incidence and prevalence of this structure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the location of the mandibular lingual foramen seen in CBCTs of a sample of the Saudi population. Methodology: 160 CBCTs images of the mandible of Saudi individuals taken at the Riyadh dental center were evaluated (45 male and 112 female) on the axial, coronal and curved sections for the presence and the number of lingual foramina for each patient. The distance between each foramen and the inferior border of the mandible, and the distance between the foramen and the genial tubercle were measured. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between male and females in the presence of the foramen. All CBCT scans showed presence of at least one lingual foramen in the mandible. Conclusion: The prevalence of the mandibular lingual foramen seems to be nearly universal in the Saudi population. Surgeons looking to place implants in the mandibular anterior region should take cognizance of this fact in order to minimize the chance of complications.