Frequency and anatomic variability of the mandibular lingual foramina: a cone-beam CT study

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the distribution of lingual foramina (LF) and their correlation with demographic characteristics and mandible width, shape, and bone thickness in Caucasian Italian patients subjected to cone-beam CT (CBCT). METHODS: CBCTs were reviewed to assess the number of all LF, midline and lateral LF. We also assessed the relationship of the number of lateral LF with gender and mandibular width, shape, and bone thickness using the Chi Square test. A p value .05). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown the high variability of number and anatomic distribution of LF in an Italian group of patients subjected to CBCT without reporting any association with gender and mandible width, shape, and bone thickness.