Association and measurement of tomographic variables in the mentonian zone in studies with Cone Beam

The mentonian duct is an anatomical structure that must be identified to avoid its damaged during surgeries. Its location is for that reason, very important. Objective: To measure tomographic variables in the zone of the mentonian duct and to determine its possible association, its more frequent location and the influence of side and sex. Method: 15 Cone Beam studies of maxillary canines of patients of both sexes (9 female and 8 male) from the city of San Miguel de Tucumán were analyzed. The used equipment was Fona XPan 3D. The measured variables were: 1 Inclination lingual vestibule of the mentonian duct. 2. Thickness of maxillary in lingual vestibule sense. 3 Bonny height from the union of the upper wall of the opening of the mentonian duct and the inferior maxillary edge. 4 Height of the opening of the mentonian duct. 5. Location of the duct respect to the longitudinal axes of premolars. Averages and SD of those variables were calculated. Averages were compared (test T) and the variables were associated. In addition the influence of sex was determined. The investigation protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of FOUNT (Exp. Nº 88751-18). Results: The average of the inclination of the mentonian duct of the right side was X= 45.46 °± 2.31 and the left one was 44.56 °± 2.79, no significant differences exist between both groups (p> 0.05). These variables were highly related 0.66 (Pearson). Respect to thickness, the average in the right side was X= 9.81 ± 0.50 mm in females and X = 10.02 ± 0,64 mm in males. Whereas in the left side it was 10.00 ± 0.60 mm in females and 8.90 ± 0.59 mm in males. Among these variables there were no significant differences (p> 0.05). Respect to the height of the right opening, the average was 2.42 ± 0.14 mm and 2.44 ± 0.12 mm of the left side. Respect to the location between the dental axes the most frequent location was at the two left side premolars (53.8%). Conclusions: The inclination as the thickness and the height of the opening of the mentonian duct was not modified with respect to side and sex, being at level of the two premolars its more frequent location. In order to extrapolate the data to a population, to increase the number of studies is necessary.