The evaluation of relationship between body mass index and mental foramen area using computer-aided methods

Abstract

Objective: Anatomical structure of the mental foramen (MF) is an essential orientation point particularly for implant planning at surgical clinics of dentistry, for genioplasty operations, and plastic surgery. The aim is to determine the influential factors such as the patient age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) on MF anatomy of dental periapical radiograms. Materials and Methods: Our study evaluated the BMI, gender, and age relationship with the calculated areas of the MF based on symmetrically taken 202 periapical dental radiography with a parallel technique of the bottom premolar region of total 101 people ages ranging from 17 to 70 weighing 46–108 kg. Patient age, BMI, and gender were recorded and statistically tested for correlations on the area of the MF. Digital imaging and communications in medicine were measured MF area. Results: Right MF area was measured as 0–20.8 mm2 (mean: 4.98 mm2) and left as 0–17.3 mm2 (4.93 mm2). There was not a difference in the areas of MF between the two sides. Furthermore, it was determined that ANOVA test and BMI, Pearson test with age and gender did not appear to have an effect on MF areas. Only within the obese people, left MF area was significantly different than those with other BMI groups. A negative effect on image quality was found statistically significantly correlated with age and MF. None of the investigated MFs were garbled by any of the investigated influence factors. Conclusion: In incidences in which the anatomical structure of the MF and the areas were crucial; age, gender, height, and weight of the individual were not determinant factors. BMI and MF appeared to have a negative impact.

Keywords

• Body mass index
• implant
• mental foramen
• surface reconstruction