Radiographic study of the mental foramen in a Mongolian population / Шинэ санаа Шинэ нээлт

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUNDPurpose of this study was to investigate the most common position of the mental foramen in a selected Mongolian population. The study sample included two hundred and twenty two panoramic radiographs of selected Mongolian population taken in School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Mongolia.RESULTSThe patients’ age ranged from 16 to 66 years, with a mean age of 27.4 years. The most common position of the mental foramen was in line with the second premolar (58.8%). Ethnic and gender differences were also investigated and the symmetry of location within individuals analyzed. In 30.2%, it was between the first and second premolar, and in 2.5%, it was below the first premolar. It is important to know the position of the mental foramen for the placement of osseointegrated implants in the mandibular premolar region.CONCLUSIONClinicians and anthropologists should expect to find the position of the mental foramen to be symmetrical and in line with the second premolar teeth.