Anatomical Characteristics of the Mandibular Median Lingual Foramen: the Assessment of the CBCT

It is necessary to consider the median lingual foramen carefully to prevent the bleeding due to the damage of the sublingual artery for implant surgery. This study is to evaluate the frequency, location, diameter and the number of the Mandibular median lingual foramen regarding gender and age in the CBCT. Sixty two images of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) whose visited the Chonnam National University Dental hospital from Sept. 2010 to Apr. 2011 were evaluated. Frequency, number, location and the diameter of Mandibular median lingual foramen shown in the CBCT image were evaluated. Sixty two patients (100%) had at least one median lingual foramen and fifty six patients (90.32%) had multiple foramens. Forty patients (66.13%) showed the median lingual foramen on the location between Mn. central incisors. The mean vertical position of the genial spine and the median lingual foramen was 24.21 mm and 14.52 mm, respectively. And the relative mean vertical dimension of median lingual foramen was 0.45. The mean diameter of the foramen was 0.93 mm. CBCT demonstrated the frequency, location, diameter and the number of median lingual foramen. It is necessary to take CBCT before implant placement to prevent the bleeding.