Abstract

The position of mental foramen varies in different ethnic groups. Precise identification of the mental foramen is important in diagnostic and clinical procedures to prevent repeated local anesthesia failures and damage to neurovascular bundles passing through it. The aim of the study was to evaluate the most common radiographic position and symmetry of the mental foramen on panoramic radiographs in relation to the adjacent teeth. Four hundred and eighty panoramic radiographs of dentate Indian patients were interpreted. Radiographically in 48.96% of cases, the mental foramen was located in line with the second premolar and was common in age group of 25-35 years and in 40.83% was in between the first and second premolars. The position of mental foramen was symmetrical in 74.6% of cases and asymmetrical in 25.4% of the radiographs analyzed. In the present study, the most frequent position of the mental foramen was in line with the second premolars and was symmetrically placed. Knowledge of the most common location of the mental foramen among Indian population may enable effective regional anesthesia during dental procedures.

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