Anatomical Study of the Posterior Mandible: Lateral Lingual Foramina in Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Purpose: To evaluate the lateral lingual foramen (LLF), an aperture located in the posterior lingual mandible area, through cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the LLF presence through 100 CBCT images. Presence of LLF was compared between sex and age. Width and height were determined and the distance from the LLF to the mental foramen (LLF-MF) and that of the LLF to the lower mandible border (LLF-LBM) were obtained. Results: LLF was observed in 39% of the examinations and 52 LLF were found and the most prevalent area of occurrence was at the second premolar area. The mean width was 1.26 +/- 0.57 mm and the mean height was 1.82 +/- 1.12 mm. The mean values of LLF-MF and LLF-LBM distances were 12.74 +/- 7.7 and 5.82 +/- 2.78 mm, respectively. Conclusions: LLF are asymmetrical structures with bilateral or unilateral distribution, located in the second premolar region close to the LBM.