Abstract

Aim: To provide morphometrical information on the shape, position, number and size of mental foramen in dry human mandibles. The knowledge on the anatomy of mental foramen is very important in clinical dentistry, surgical procedures and nerve blocks, to avoid injuries to the neurovascular bundle in the mental foramen. Material and Methods: This study was conducted on 45 dry adult human mandibles in the Department of Anatomy, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, U.A.E. The shape and number of mental foramen were studied by visual examination. The size and position of the mental foramen were measured using Vernier caliper. The excel software was used for the statistical analysis. Results: In our study, bilateral mental foramen were present in all the mandibles.The majority of mandibles were oval in shape with 71.12% on left side and 66.67% on the right side. The most common position for mental foramen was found to be along the longitudinal axis passing between the 2nd premolar and 1st molar teeth with 44.45% on the left side and 46.66% on the right side respectively. The mean vertical diameter of mental foramen was found to be 3.23 mm on left side and 3.33 mm on the right , whereas the horizontal diameter was found to be 4.05 mm on the left side and 4.21 mm on the right side. We also found the higher incidence of postero-superiorly directed mental foramen on both sides with 55.33% on left and 44.45% on right side. Their was no incidence of accessory mental foramen in any mandibles studied. Conclusion: Our study will be a helpful supplement to the data collected previously on the variation in the incidence, position, shape and size of mental foramen. It will provide useful information to dental surgeons, anesthetics and neurosurgeons to carry out nerve block and surgical procedures like apical curettage of mandibular premolars and periodontal surgery. We did not come across any accessory mental foramen in any 45 mandibles studied.

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