Sm. Mintz et al., ANATOMIC RELATIONSHIP OF THE GENIAL TUBERCLES TO THE DENTITION AS DETERMINED BY CROSS-SECTIONAL TOMOGRAPHY, Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, 53(11), 1995, pp. 1324-1326
Purpose: This study determined the anatomic location and the dimension
s of the genial tubercles in relation to the apices of the mandibular
central incisors. Materials and Methods. Linear cross-sectional tomogr
aphic images were made of 41 adult human skulls. A 2-mm-thick section
was produced through each central incisor. The vertical distance betwe
en the apex of each central incisor and the level of the superior aspe
ct of the genial tubercle was measured on the radiographs. Additional
measurements were taken on the dry skulls to determine the horizontal
distance between the apices of the two central incisors and the width
and height of the genial tubercle. Results: Although 5 mm is considere
d a safe zone for geniotomies, 29 of the genial tubercles (35.4%) were
less than 5 mm from the apices of the mandibular central incisors. Th
e distance between the apices of these incisors ranged from 9 mm to 15
mm. Conclusion: Osteotomy of the genial tubercles can be performed wi
thin the confines of the mandibular central incisors, but care must be
taken to avoid the root apices.