Fig 1.
(A) MF-MSB distance (1), MF-MIB distance (2), Emerging angle of the MF (3). (B) CBCT cross-sectional reconstructed slices of the mandible to show MF-MSB and MF-MIB distances, and emerging angle.
Fig 2.
(A) Long diameter (1), Short diameter (2). (B) CBCT sagittal reconstructed slices of the mandible to show the long and short diameters of the MF.
Table 1.
MF morphometric characteristics with respect to dental status.
Table 2.
MF morphometric characteristics with respect to anteroposterior location.
Fig 3.
MF morphometric characteristics with respect to anteroposterior position.
MFs presented a statistically significant reduction in dimensions (long diameter, short diameter, and area) as their position moved closer to the midline. The area and long diameter of the MFs located below the 2nd premolar and those located between 1st molar and 2nd premolar were significantly higher compared to the MFs located below 1st premolar. The short diameter of the MFs located below the 1st molar, between 1st molar and 2nd premolar, and below the 2nd premolar was significantly higher compared to the MFs located below the 1st premolar. In addition, the short diameter of the MFs located between the 1st molar and 2nd premolar was significantly higher compared to the MFs located between the 2nd premolar and 1st premolar.
Table 3.
Determining factors of MF long diameter, short diameter and area.
Fig 4.
(A) Females had a lower rate of large MF areas (B = −0.60; p < 0.01). Left hemimandibles had a higher rate of large MF areas (B = 0.55; p < 0.01). (B) Hemimandibles with no AMF had a higher rate of large MF areas (B = 0.85; p < 0.05).
Fig 5.
(A1) Progress in total population over time. (A2) Progress in completely dentate patients over time (R = 0.26; B = −0.05; p = 0.02) †. (B) Females showed a lower rate of large MF areas (B = −0.60; p < 0.01) *. (C) Dentate patients showed a higher rate of long MF-MSB distances in comparison with edentulous patients (B = 2.27; p < 0.01) *. *Binary logistic regression analysis. †Linear regression analysis.
Table 4.
Determining factors of MF-MSB distance, MF-MIB distance, MV distance and MF-MSB/MV ratio.