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Updated: Nov 16, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing CBCT and Digital Dental Image Integration with AI-Assisted Digitization
Published on: February 23, 2024
Systematic review and meta-analysis of lingual foramina anatomy and surgical-related aspects on cone-beam computed
Daniel Almeida Ferreira Barbosa1, Diego Santiago de Mendonça2, Francisco Samuel Rodrigues de Carvalho3
1Division of Oral Radiology, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Monsenhor Furtado, 1273, Rodolfo Teófilo, CEP, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-355, Brazil. danielodontologia@gmail.com.
Purpose:
This study aimed to summarize the evidence regarding lingual foramen (LF) characteristics using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Materials And Methods:
A registered systematic review (#42,019,145,962) was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements. An electronic search without date or language restrictions was performed in five databases, including grey literature (Google Scholar and ProQuest). The Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument was used to evaluate the selected studies.
Results:
A total of 6641 articles were identified, and 26 studies (8255 CBCT scans) were selected after a three-step selection process. There was a female predominance, and age ranged between 10 and 93 years. A total of 4336 LFs were observed among men (n = 2042) and women (n = 2294). Of this LF-related sample, 43.5% of the studies were from Asia, followed by Europe (33.5%), North America (14%), and South America (9%). Different distances from the LF to the alveolar crest (11.04-20.4 mm), buccal (4.73-4.91 mm), and lingual (8.75 mm) cortices and the inferior border of the mandible (8.48-26.59 mm) were evaluated.
Conclusion:
In summary, this systematic review found that LF is an anatomical structure with a high prevalence among the included studies (greater than 90%), regardless of the population evaluated. The occurrence of at least one LF was the most common pattern.
