Online ISSN: 2515-8260

Morphometric Analysis of the Mental Foramen of Dry Human Mandibles and its significance

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Nowsheen.M1 , Dr. Vimal Modi2

Abstract

Introduction: The mental foramen (MF) is an oval or circular opening on the body of the mandible where the mandibular canal terminates. It is an exit for the mental nerve and blood vessels, which are terminal branches of inferior alveolar nerve, artery, and vein. The mental nerve provides innervations of the lower teeth, lip, gingival, and lower face. The MF is an important anatomical landmark during osteotomy procedures, anesthetic nerve blocks, and prevention of neurovascular complications after invasive procedures on the lower jaw. Its anatomy is also useful in evaluating the morphometric symmetry of the mental triangle, microscopic and macroscopic morphology, bone remodeling activity, and paleoanthropologic features of the facial skeleton in different populations. Material and Method: Totally, 350 bones were studied in 2 years duration. The study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Index Medical College Hospital & Research Center over a period of 2 year. The position of mental foramen was studied using an instrument known as digital Vernier Calliper (in mm) while shape was analysed visually. Position of mental foramen was calculated using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. Results: In our study, the mean and standard deviation of Distance from symphysis menti to medial margin of mental foramen was found to be (26.42±0.32) on right side and (25.35±0.31) on left side. In our study, the mean and standard deviation of Distance from posterior border of ramus of mandible to lateral margin of mental foramen was found to be (66.32±0.64) on right side and (65.25±0.57) on left side. In our study, the mean and standard deviation of Distance from symphysis menti to posterior border of ramus of mandible was found to be (96.46±0.94) on right side and (95.36±0.87) on left side. In our study, the mean and standard deviation of Horizontal diameter of foramen was found to be (3.62±0.02) on right side and (3.56±0.01) on left side.

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