{Reference Type}: Journal Article {Title}: The anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve within the mentonian foramen: a scoping review. {Author}: Bezerra AA;Borges AFM;Leão LO;de Araujo CM;Taveira KVM; {Journal}: Surg Radiol Anat {Volume}: 46 {Issue}: 8 {Year}: 2024 Aug 18 {Factor}: 1.354 {DOI}: 10.1007/s00276-024-03395-w {Abstract}: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to delineate the safety zone concerning the anteriorization of the AL and correlate it with the behavior of the AL, analyzing its feasibility.
METHODS: Adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) manual guidelines, both the protocol and this review were conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. MeSH terms, combined with free terms, were utilized to search for articles in the following databases: Embase, LILACS, LIVIVO, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and grey literature.
RESULTS: Fifteen articles were select following the eligibility criteria. An average safe zone of 4.75 mm in humans was observed, with a prevalence 60.8% and average anterior length of the AL of 2.09 mm in humans.
CONCLUSIONS: The AL has varied patterns across different populations, then, it could not be asserted a 100% safe zone. Preoperative analysis of the AL with CBCT is always necessary. While it could be stated that a safe zone should be employed as an inviolable region, stipulated measures of a safe zone should be regarded as an area of greater attention in preoperative planning.