• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.652-672
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• 1996

Dysfunction of the inferior alveolar nerve may result from trauma, diseases or iatrogenic injury. The development and refinement of an objective method to evaluate this clinical problem is highly desirable and needed, especially concerning for an increasing medico-legal issue. Evoked potential techniques have attracted considerable attention as a means of assessing the function and integrity of nerve pathways. The purpose of this study was to characterize the Sensory Evoked Potentials(SEPs) and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials(SSEPs) elicited by electrical stimulation of mental nerve. SEPs and SSEPs were measured and analyzed statistically before and after needle injury on the inferior alveolar nerve of Sprague-Dawalye rats. Measuring SEPs was more sensitive in evaluation of the recovery of sensory function from inferior alveolar nerve injury then measuring SSEPs but we measured SSEPs in the hope of providing a safe, simple and objective test to check oral and facial sensibility, which is acceptable to the patient. We stimulated mental nerve after needle injury on the inferior alveolar nerve and SEPS on the level of mandibular foramen and SSEPs on the level of cerebral cortex were recorded. Threshold, amplitude, and latency of both of SEPs and SSEPs were analyzed. The results were as follows ; 1. Threshold of SEPs and SSEPs were $184{\pm}14{\mu}A$ and $164{\pm}14{\mu}A$ respectively. 2 SEPs were composed of 2 waves, i.e., N1 N2 in which N1 was conducted by II fibers and N2 was conducted by III fibers. 3. SSEPS were composed of 5 waves, of which N1 and N2 shower statistically significant changes(p<0.01, unpaired t-test). 4. SEPs and SSEPs were observed to be abolished immediately after local anesthesia and recovered 30 minutes later. 5. SEPs were abolished immediately after injury. N1 of SSEPs was abolished immediately and amplitued of N2 was decreased($20.7{\pm}12.2%$) immediately after 23G needle injury, but N3, N4 and N5 did not change significantly. Recovery of waveform delayed 30 minutes in SEPs and 45 minutes in SSEPs. 6. The degree of decrease in amplitude of SEPs and SSEPs, after 30G needle injury was smaller than those with 23G. SEPs recorded on the level of mandibular foramen were though to be reliable and useful in the assessment of the function of the inferior alveolar nerve after injury. Amplitude of SSEPs reflected the function and integrity of nerve and measuring them provided a safe, simple and abjective test to check oral and facial sensibility. These results suggest that measuring SEPs and SSEPs are meaningful methods for objective assessment in the diagnosis of nerve injury. N1 and N2 of SSEPs can be useful parameters for the evaluation of the nerve function following a needle injury.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.447-455
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Nd:YAG laser irradiation for sensory nerve conduction change. Nd:YAG laser was irradiated to mental region for 5 minutes with the parameters that 10 Hz and 20 Hz of 100 mJ/pulse. Target size of irradiation was 30 mm diameter of circle and target-tip distance was about 10 mm. Therefore, the power density were 212 $mW/cm^2$ and 424 $mW/cm^2$. Sensory nerve conduction was evaluated with $Neurometer^{\circled}$ CPT/C before and after Nd:YAG laser irradiation. As an outcomes, the current perception threshold(CPT) and pain tolerance threshold(PTT) were obtained. We made a comparison of these two values and the results were as follows. 1. There was no significant difference in CPT at 1W, 10 Hz and 2 W, 20 Hz Nd:YAG laser irradiation. 2. There was no significant difference in PTT at 10 Hz, 20 Hz of 100 mJ/pulse Nd:YAG laser. 3. There were no significant differences in CPT and PTT between 1 W, 10 Hz group and 2 W, 20 Hz group. Therefore, We can make a conclusion that Nd:YAG laser irradiation to mental region have no effect on mental nerve conduction in our study model.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the position of the mental foramen relative to the apices of the teeth based on panoramic radiographs in a Moroccan population. We also analyzed gender differences and the symmetry of location within individuals. Materials and Methods: Seven hundred ninety-four panoramic radiographs were evaluated with regard to the location and symmetry of the mental foramina in male and female subjects. The results were analyzed using Pearson's ${\chi}^2$ and Fisher's exact test. Results: Of the 794 panoramic radiographs, 377 met the inclusion criteria for at least one side. The mental foramen was located just below the apex of the second premolar in 62.7% of the patients and between the first and second premolars in 30%. It was symmetrically located in 79%. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females in the position and symmetry of the mental foramen. Conclusion: The most common position for the mental foramen in this sample was in line with the second premolar.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.655-661
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• 2010

Objectives : This study is aimed to prevent the damage to the inferior alveolar nerve during the orthognathic surgery. Methods : The control group consist of 50 patients with class I occlusion. The experimental group consist of 50 patients with class III malocclusion. The cepalometric radiography was used to evaluate the position of the mental foramina. Results : In the first, mental foramen position of class III was more inferior 0.85 mm in the distance between base of mandible and mental foramen. But the distance between occlusal plan and mental foramen had not statistically significant. Secondly, mental foramen location of Mandibular Prognathism was more anterior 0.91 mm in the distance between coronal plane of mandible included pogonion point and mental foramen. Also, the distance of occlusal-coronal plane of mandible included central incisor and mental foramen had statistically significant. The mental foramen location of class III was more anterior 4.81 mm than class I patients. Conclusions : The result of this study could help the clinicians to apprehend fundamental data with various facial skeletal types for any related researches about the location of the mental foramina for other purposes.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.60.1-60.6
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• 2019

Background: The lingual nerve plays an important role in multiple functions, including gustatory sensation and contact sensitivity and thermosensitivity. Misdiagnosed conservative treatments for serious lingual nerve (LN) injuries can induce the patient to serious mental disability. After continuous observation and critical diagnosis of the injury, in cases involving significant disruption of lingual nerve function, microneurosurgical reconstruction of the nerve is recommended. Direct anastomosis of the torn nerve ends without tension is the recommended approach. However, in cases that present significant gaps between the injured nerve ends, nerve grafts or conduits (tubes of various materials) are employed. Recently, various reconstruction materials for peripheral nerves were commercially offered especially in the USA, but the best method and material is still unclear in the world. There currently exists no conventional protocol for managing LN neurosensory deficiency in regard to optimal methods and the timing for surgical repair. In Japan, the allograft collagen nerve for peripheral nerves reconstruction was permitted in 2017, and we tried to use this allograft nerve and got a recommendable result. Case presentation: This report is a long-term abandoned torn LN reconstructed with allograft nerve induced by the lower third molar extraction. Conclusions: In early sick period, with the exact diagnosis, the LN disturbance should be managed. In a serious condition, the reconstruction with allograft nerve is one of the recommendable methods.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2009

Purpose: To assess the angle between mandibular canal and occlusal plane at each posterior tooth region and location of mental foramen on the panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: This study analysed 46 half-mandibles of panoramic radiographs. Inferior border of mandibular canal was traced. Occlusal plane was drawn from lingual cusp tip of the first premolar to distolingual cusp tip of the second molar. Perpendicular line from occlusal plane was drawn at each tooth region and then tangential lines were drawn from the crossing points at canal. the angle between occlusal plane and tangential line was measured. The location of mental foramen was also studied. According to the location of mental foramen, radiographs were divided into M (mesial) group and D (distal) group on the basis of the second premolar. and then inter-group analysis about mandibular canal angle was done. Results: The angles of mandibular canals were -17.7$^{\circ}$, -9.5$^{\circ}$, 8.2$^{\circ}$, 22.3$^{\circ}$, and 39.2$^{\circ}$at first premolar, second premolar, first molar, second molar, and third molar, respectively. The commonest position of the mental foramen was distal to the second premolar. Inter-group comparison showed statistically significant difference at the second premolar and the first molar(p<0.001). Conclusion: The knowledge of mandibular canal angle and location of mental foramen can help understanding the course of mandibular canal. (Korean J Oral Maxillofac Radiol 2009; 39: 89-92)

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1.1-1.13
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• 2022

Objectives: This study assessed the shape and anatomical relationship of the mental foramen (MF) to mandibular posterior teeth in an Indian sub-population. Materials and Methods: In total, 475 existing cone-beam computed tomography records exhibiting 950 MFs and including the bilateral presence of mandibular premolars and first molars were assessed. Images were evaluated 3-dimensionally to ascertain the position, shape, and anatomical proximity of MFs to mandibular teeth. The position and shape of MFs were measured and calculated. The Pythagorean theorem was used to calculate the distance between the root apex of the mandibular teeth and the MF. Results: MFs exhibited a predominantly round shape (left: 67% and right: 65%) followed by oval (left: 30% and right: 31%) in both males and females and in different age groups. The root apices of mandibular second premolars (left: 71% and right: 62%) were closest to the MF, followed by distal to the first premolars and mesial to the second premolars. The mean vertical distance between the MF and the nearest tooth apex calculated on sagittal sections was 2.20 mm on the right side and 2.32 mm on the left side; no significant difference was found according to sex or age. The distance between the apices of the teeth and the MF was ≥ 4 mm (left; 4.09 ± 1.27 mm and right; 4.01 ± 1.15 mm). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for clinicians to be aware of the location of the MF in treatment planning and while performing non-surgical and surgical endodontic procedures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.392-394
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• 2010

Trochlear nerve palsy associated with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is known to be a rare malady. We report here on a patient who suffered with left trochlear nerve palsy following rupture of a right posterior communicating artery aneurysm. A 56-year-woman visited our emergency department with stuporous mental change. Her Hunt-and-Hess grade was 3 and the Fisher grade was 4. Cerebral angiography revealed a ruptured aneurysm of the right posterior communicating artery. The aneurysm was clipped via a right pterional approach on the day of admission. The patient complained of diplopia when she gazed to the left side, and the ophthalmologist found limited left inferolateral side gazing due to left superior oblique muscle palsy on day 3. Elevated intracranial pressure, intraventricular hemorrhage or a dense clot in the basal cisterns might have caused this trochlear nerve palsy.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.232-235
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• 2012

Hypoesthesia after an inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block does not commonly occur, but some cases are reported. The causes of hypoesthesia include a needle injury or toxicity of local anesthetic agents, and the incidence itself can cause stress to both dentists and patients. This case presents a hypoesthesia on mental nerve area followed by IAN block anesthesia with 2% lidocaine. Prescription of steroids for a week was performed and periodic follow up was done. After 1 wk, the symptoms got much better and after 4 mon, hypoesthesia completely disappeared. During this healing period, only early steroid medication was prescribed. In most cases, hypoesthesia is resolved within 6 mon, but being aware of etiology and the treatment options of hypoesthesia is important. Because the hypoesthesia caused by IAN block anesthesia is a mild to moderate nerve injury, early detection of symptom and prescription of steroids could be helpful for improvement of the hypoesthesia.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2007

Purpose : To determine the more valuable information to detect the mandibular canal and the mental foramen in panoramic radiographs of a selected Korean population for the implant. Materials and Methods : This study analysed 288 panoramic radiographic images of patients taken at the Dental hospital of Chosun University retrospectively. Indirect digital panoramic X-ray machine (ProlineXC, PLANMECA, Finland) with processing by using Directview $CR950^@$ (Kodak, U.S.A.) and Direct digital panoramic X-ray machine (Promax, PLANMECA, Finland) were used for all exposures. All images were converted into Dicom format. Results : The common position of the mental foramen was in line with the longitudinal axis of the second premolar (68.1%). The mental foramen was symmetrical in 81.8% of cases. The mandibular canal was not identified at anterior portion and discontinued with the mental foramen in 27.8% of all cases, in 42.4% identified with lower border line continued with the mental foramen, in 14.6% with both upper and lower border lines, and in 15.3% unilaterally identified with lower border line. Conclusion : Clinicians can estimate the upper border line of the mandibular canal from the confirmation of the mental foramen and the lower border line of the mandibular canal symmetrically on the panoramic radiography taken in adjusted midsaggital plane of patient's head.