Evaluation of Mental Foramen with Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A Systematic Review of Literature

Figure 1

Solar et al. [3] classification of mental nerve paths. Type 1: no loop was found, and the anatomy was Y-shaped with the incisive branch usually as wide as the main branch. The mental branch leaves the inferior alveolar nerve posterior to the opening of the mental foramen [4]. Type 2: no loop was found, and the anatomy was T-shaped with the incisive branch usually as wide as the main branch. The mental branch leaves the inferior alveolar nerve perpendicular to the opening of the mental foramen [4]. Type 3: an anterior loop was found, and the anatomy was Y-shaped with the incisive branch usually as narrow as the main branch. The mental nerve branched from the inferior alveolar nerve anterior to the mental foramen [4].