Accuracy of Mandibular Foramen Localization Using Digital Orthopantomogram (OPG) in Middle Eastern Population

Background/Objectives: Locating the mandibular foramen (MF) through imaging is clinically important for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) anesthesia and mandibular ramus osteotomies. Although cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is superior in imaging the mandible, an orthopantomogram (OPG) is preferred...

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Main Authors: Yasser S. Alali, Wajdi A. Mohammed (Bin), Sami M. Alotaibi, Sami Alshehri, Muath Alshayban
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/19/2173
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author Yasser S. Alali
Wajdi A. Mohammed (Bin)
Sami M. Alotaibi
Sami Alshehri
Muath Alshayban
author_facet Yasser S. Alali
Wajdi A. Mohammed (Bin)
Sami M. Alotaibi
Sami Alshehri
Muath Alshayban
author_sort Yasser S. Alali
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: Locating the mandibular foramen (MF) through imaging is clinically important for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) anesthesia and mandibular ramus osteotomies. Although cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is superior in imaging the mandible, an orthopantomogram (OPG) is preferred for its ease of use and availability. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of digital OPG in localizing the MF, in a subset of the Middle Eastern population. Methods: Radiographic images (OPG and CBCT) of selected patients (adults, dentulous and no mandibular abnormalities) were used to locate the MF through digital measurements (mm) of the anteroposterior distance from the anterior border of the ramus (MF-AP) and the superoinferior position from the mandibular occlusal plane (MF-SI). Measurements were statistically compared between OPG and CBCT for accuracy. Differences in measurements between OPG and CBCT were compared against the anatomic location (right/left), age and biological sex, assuming a <i>p</i>-value < 0.05 as significant. Results: A total of 204 radiographic records (males: 100/females: 104/mean age: 34.65 ± 11.55 years) were evaluated. The measurements for the MF were MF-AP-OPG (right: 13.53 ± 2.44/left: 13.19 ± 2.25), MF-AP-CBCT (right: 13.61 ± 2.39/left: 13.36 ± 2.19), MF-SI-OPG (right: 5.25 ± 1.71/left: 5.41 ± 1.65) and MF-SI-CBCT (right: 5.59 ± 1.66/left: 5.52 ± 1.61). Measurements between OPG and CBCT were not significantly different, except for MF-SI (right) (<i>p</i> = 0.042). While the overall difference between OPG and CBCT (MF-AP/MF-SI) measurements showed a significant association (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with the anatomic location (right/left), a significant association (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with biological sex was observed only for MF-AP. Conclusions: Based on this study’s outcomes, digital OPG is an accurate modality to locate the MF based on anteroposterior (MF-AP) and superoinferior (MF-SI) measurements. This would be clinically beneficial for dental and oral surgeons to achieve the optimum IAN block anesthesia based on preoperative panoramic radiographs. Similarly, it would assist maxillofacial surgeons in planning mandibular orthognathic surgeries and ramus osteotomies without complications.
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spelling doaj-art-e69d72022bca40f78ecb897b33eb1a2c2025-08-20T01:47:42ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182024-09-011419217310.3390/diagnostics14192173Accuracy of Mandibular Foramen Localization Using Digital Orthopantomogram (OPG) in Middle Eastern PopulationYasser S. Alali0Wajdi A. Mohammed (Bin)1Sami M. Alotaibi2Sami Alshehri3Muath Alshayban4Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh 11545, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh 11545, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh 11545, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biomedical Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh 11545, Saudi ArabiaBackground/Objectives: Locating the mandibular foramen (MF) through imaging is clinically important for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) anesthesia and mandibular ramus osteotomies. Although cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is superior in imaging the mandible, an orthopantomogram (OPG) is preferred for its ease of use and availability. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of digital OPG in localizing the MF, in a subset of the Middle Eastern population. Methods: Radiographic images (OPG and CBCT) of selected patients (adults, dentulous and no mandibular abnormalities) were used to locate the MF through digital measurements (mm) of the anteroposterior distance from the anterior border of the ramus (MF-AP) and the superoinferior position from the mandibular occlusal plane (MF-SI). Measurements were statistically compared between OPG and CBCT for accuracy. Differences in measurements between OPG and CBCT were compared against the anatomic location (right/left), age and biological sex, assuming a <i>p</i>-value < 0.05 as significant. Results: A total of 204 radiographic records (males: 100/females: 104/mean age: 34.65 ± 11.55 years) were evaluated. The measurements for the MF were MF-AP-OPG (right: 13.53 ± 2.44/left: 13.19 ± 2.25), MF-AP-CBCT (right: 13.61 ± 2.39/left: 13.36 ± 2.19), MF-SI-OPG (right: 5.25 ± 1.71/left: 5.41 ± 1.65) and MF-SI-CBCT (right: 5.59 ± 1.66/left: 5.52 ± 1.61). Measurements between OPG and CBCT were not significantly different, except for MF-SI (right) (<i>p</i> = 0.042). While the overall difference between OPG and CBCT (MF-AP/MF-SI) measurements showed a significant association (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with the anatomic location (right/left), a significant association (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with biological sex was observed only for MF-AP. Conclusions: Based on this study’s outcomes, digital OPG is an accurate modality to locate the MF based on anteroposterior (MF-AP) and superoinferior (MF-SI) measurements. This would be clinically beneficial for dental and oral surgeons to achieve the optimum IAN block anesthesia based on preoperative panoramic radiographs. Similarly, it would assist maxillofacial surgeons in planning mandibular orthognathic surgeries and ramus osteotomies without complications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/19/2173orthopantomogramOPGcone-beam computed tomographyCBCTpanoramic radiographdigital imaging
spellingShingle Yasser S. Alali
Wajdi A. Mohammed (Bin)
Sami M. Alotaibi
Sami Alshehri
Muath Alshayban
Accuracy of Mandibular Foramen Localization Using Digital Orthopantomogram (OPG) in Middle Eastern Population
Diagnostics
orthopantomogram
OPG
cone-beam computed tomography
CBCT
panoramic radiograph
digital imaging
title Accuracy of Mandibular Foramen Localization Using Digital Orthopantomogram (OPG) in Middle Eastern Population
title_full Accuracy of Mandibular Foramen Localization Using Digital Orthopantomogram (OPG) in Middle Eastern Population
title_fullStr Accuracy of Mandibular Foramen Localization Using Digital Orthopantomogram (OPG) in Middle Eastern Population
title_full_unstemmed Accuracy of Mandibular Foramen Localization Using Digital Orthopantomogram (OPG) in Middle Eastern Population
title_short Accuracy of Mandibular Foramen Localization Using Digital Orthopantomogram (OPG) in Middle Eastern Population
title_sort accuracy of mandibular foramen localization using digital orthopantomogram opg in middle eastern population
topic orthopantomogram
OPG
cone-beam computed tomography
CBCT
panoramic radiograph
digital imaging
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/19/2173
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AT samimalotaibi accuracyofmandibularforamenlocalizationusingdigitalorthopantomogramopginmiddleeasternpopulation
AT samialshehri accuracyofmandibularforamenlocalizationusingdigitalorthopantomogramopginmiddleeasternpopulation
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