Endosseous Arteries in the Anterior Mandible: Literature Review

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review was to investigate the topography of endosseous blood vessels supplying the anterior mandible to prevent complications both during and after oral surgical procedures. Material and Methods: A comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE-PubMed was performed independently for articles describing the anatomical findings of endosseous blood vessels in the anterior part of the mandible. From about 31 related studies, 14 papers were selected based on specific selection criteria. These studies were related to radiologic findings and cadaver studies. Results: There is significant debate concerning the blood vessels supplying the anterior part of the mandible. Hence, in the literature reviewed, no clear consensus was established. There are no reports of severe endosseous bleeding from the mandible during surgical procedures in the symphysis. Based on computed tomographic images, some papers presented an exact intraosseous path of the canals, as well as frequent blood vessel anastomosis in this region. Dissection studies confirmed the presence of sublingual blood vessels penetrating into the bone. Conclusions: The potential risk of bleeding upon perforation of vessels within the bone needs to be evaluated to avoid such complications. The management of intraoperative surgical problems is of significance. Keywords: anterior mandible, complications, lingual artery