Avaliação por meio de tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico da presença de foraminas linguais na região anterior de mandíbula

Abstract

Lingual foramina are small openings in the lingual surface of the mandible, often located around the midline. This structure, as a nutrient canal containing arterial branches, has gained increasing attention, due to the rapid expansion of implantology, which often addresses the anterior region of the mandible, in addition to reports of accidents related to this structure. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate, through cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), the prevalence, diameter and location of lingual foramina. To this end, 324 CBCT exams were evaluated by an appraiser duly calibrated by a professional experienced in the area, using sagittal tomographic sections. For statistical analysis, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was used, which indicated non-parametric distribution, comparisons between genders were made using the Mann-Whitney test. The comparison of proportions was made using the Qui² test with correction using Fisher's exact test. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze the age and number of foramina variables. Statistical significance was used with p-value less than 5%. As a result, it was found that the prevalence of midline lingual foramina was 98.4%. Regarding the measurements of foramin location, a significant difference was found between the sexes, in which men presented measurements greater than women. Thus, it is concluded that the prevalence of foramina was high, with an average diameter of 0.7 mm and for measures of location of foramina, that between the alveolar crest and foramina had an average of 18.9 mm. The measurement between foramina and mandibular had base averaged of 14.3 mm.