ABSTRACT
Background & Objectives: will be useful for anatomists, anthropologists, aneasthetist, orthopedics and experts in the field of forensic medicine. The aim of the study was to examine the different morphometric variations of the human mandibles and comparing between dentate and edentulous mandibles is done. Methods: This study included only bone who exhibited no obvious bone pathology. All measurements were done bilaterally, performed with a stainless steel metric digital calliper with 0.01 mm precision. The relative position of the Mental foramena (MF)as analyzed with measurements made from nferior wall of mandible to the mandibular base, from anterior wall of mandible to the mandibular skeletal midline, from his posterior wall to the posterior mandibular rim. To determine this relation, the standard horizontal plane defined by Morrant was used. Briefly, the mandible was placed on a horizontal surface, to which the lower border of the mandible comes into greatest contact when vertical pressure is applied to the second molar teeth. Results: The most common location for the MF is a position aligned between second premolar and first molar (Rt. side 30% & Lt. Side 31%). Comparison of measurements of dentate and edentulous mandible is significnat on both sides. Conclusion: The knowledge of the distances from surgically encountered anatomical landmarks in the present study provide valuable information to dental surgeons that will facilitate effective localization of the neurovascular bundle passing through mental foramen thus avoiding complications from local anesthetic, surgical and other invasive procedures.