Читать книгу Practical Procedures in Implant Dentistry - Группа авторов - Страница 59

The maxillary incisive foramen is located at the midline of the inferior surface of the maxillary palatal process approximately 10 mm behind the mesial incisal edges of the central incisor clinical crowns. This foramen is the opening to the incisive canal, which carries bundles of the nasopalatine nerve and the anterior branches of the greater palatine artery, both sourced bilaterally [1]. The incisive canal is approximately 11 mm long, with the incisive foramen located inferiorly possessing a mean diameter of 4.5 mm that tapers to about 3.4 mm at the level of the nasal floor superiorly [2].

The nasopalatine nerve is a branch of the posterior superior nasal nerves arising from the pterygopalatine ganglion branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V2). This nerve courses inferiorly and anteriorly, passing through the incisive foramen, where it supplies innervation to the anterior part of the palate, before ultimately communicating with the greater palatine nerve. Thus, local anaesthesia delivered to the incisive foramen may be utilised when performing surgical procedures or operative dentistry in the region of the anterior maxilla.

The anterior branch of the greater palatine artery branches off the greater palatine artery after it emerges from the greater palatine foramen in the posterior palate and runs anteriorly across the hard palate towards the incisive foramen. Once it passes through the incisive canal, the anterior branch of the greater palatine artery anastomoses with the sphenopalatine artery on the nasal septum or in the region of the canal itself.