The position, dimensions and morphological variations of mental foamen in mandibles

Abstract

Introduction: Mental foramen (MF) is a small foramen situated in antero lateral aspect of the body of the mandible. It transmits mental nerve, artery and vein. Studying the position and its morphological variations of MF helps to localise the mental nerve which is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve. It will help to prevent complications during invasive procedures at the mental region. The most common position of the MF is in-line with the longitudinal axis of the 2nd pre-molar tooth followed by a location between the 1st and the second pre-molar tooth. It is usually single and oval in shape. Materials and methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna. 24 hemimandibles were examined and out of which there were 15 Male and 09 Female subjects. The age ranged from 47 years to 103 years. Measurements were obtained by using a vernior caliper. Distance from (a) Symphysis menti, (b) Inferior border of the mandible, (c) Posterior border of the ramus and (d) Superior border of the body of the mandible to the MF and the diameters of the MF were taken in to the nearest 1/10 of the millimeter. Results and discussion: Mean age was 74.73 years in males and 75.43 years in females. Out of 24 hemi-mandibles 22 (91.67%) posses single MF and Two (8.33%) had accessory MF's. The accessory MF's were smaller in size (mean diameter 1.70 mm) than the regular MF (Mean diameter 2.11 mm in round shape and mean long diameter was 2.97 mm in oval shape MF) and were oval in shape. The mean distance from symphysis menti, posterior border of the ramus, and inferior border of the body of the mandible were 26.52 mm, 65.38 mm, 12.25 mm respectively. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the shape, position and age related variation of the MF with similar studies, but a significant difference can be seen in the size of the MF in Sri Lankan mandibles. doi: 10.4038/gmj.v11i1.1111 Galle Medical Journal Vol.11(1) 2006 13-15