Evaluation of the Anatomic Variations of Lingual Foramen and its Bony Canals with CBCT in South Indian Sub-population: A Radiographic Observational Study

Aim: To assess prevalence and morphometrics of lingual foramen and lingual canals using Cone Beam Computerised Tomography (CBCT).

Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study, in which 144 CBCT scans were obtained from the archives of Department of Oral radiology, Vishnu dental college, Bhimavaram. Parameters such as number, location, length of the lingual canal, travel path of the lingual canals, distance from the lingual foramen to inferior border, in cases where extra foramen is present an additional criteria involving measurement of the distance between both the foramen was also evaluated. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test and results were formulated.

Results: Lingual foramen was a common observation in all of the examined CBCT scans and 21% of scans showed two lingual foramen. The average distance from the Inferior Lingual Foramen (ILF) to Inferior Border (IB) was 3.3 ± 1.0 mm. The mean length of the Superior Lingual Canal (SLC) was 4.2 ± 1.3mm and the mean length of the ILC (Inferior lingual canal) was 4.2 ± 1.2mm. The majority of the inferior lingual foramen (76%) were inclined and only 0.1% of foramen were vertical.

Conclusion: Variations in the prevalence of the lingual foramen are observed due to variations in the ethnicity, geographic location. Detailed evaluation of these anatomic structures using CBCT help in prevention of the complications and will improve the treatment outcome.