Age-Related Variations In Mental Foramen Location: A CBCT-Based Analysis

Objectives: This study aims to estimate age by analyzing mental foramen measurements obtained from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, and examine how these measurements change with age. Material and Methods: The study involved 80 individuals aged between 21 and 60 years, divided into four groups based on age: 2130, 3140, 4150, and 5160 years, each group containing 20 subjects. Distances measured on CBCT scans included Superior border of mandible to upper border of mental foramen (SM-UM), Lower border of mental foramen to inferior border of mandible (LM-IM), Upper border of mental foramen to Inferior border of mandible (UM-IM) and Superior border of mandible to lower border of mandible (SM-IM). Statistical evaluation involved one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test, Pearson’s correlation, and linear regression to predict age. Results: The distances SM-UM and UM-IM showed a significant increase with age until 50 years, followed by a slight decline in the 5160-year group. The SM-IM distance decreased progressively with age, while LMIM exhibited a minor, non-significant increase. ANOVA results revealed significant differences for SM-UM (p=0.002), UM-IM (p<0.001), and SM-IM (p=0.041) among age groups. Regression analysis confirmed that measurements can serve as predictors for estimating chronological age. Conclusion: Assessing parameters through CBCT imaging offers a valuable supplementary tool for forensic age determination, highlighting notable age-related morphological changes. These results endorse the application of measurements in forensic odontology.