Morphometeric Analysis of Mental Foramen in Human Mandibles of South Gujarat.

ABSTRACT

Mental Foramen is found on the anterolateral aspect of the mandible and transmits mental nerves and vessels. The knowledge of anatomical morphometry of mental foramen is essential in clinical dentistry when administering regional anesthesia and performing periapical surgery in the mental region of the mandible. Mental nerve leaving the foramen is anesthetized during the dental procedures, suturing of soft tissue lacerations of mouth and biopsy. The aim of the study was to elucidate the morphological features and precise anatomical position of the mental foramen with reference to surrounding anatomical landmarks in an adult South Gujarat population, the area where this information is scanty. This study was conducted using 100 dried human mandibles of unknown sex obtained from the Department of Anatomy, S.M. Institute of Medical Education & Research and Government Medical College, Surat. The parameters including size, shape, number, location and dimensions of mental foramen with respect to the surgically encountered anatomical landmarks were studied. In most of the cases the foramen was oval in shape and situated in the line with the longitudinal axis of the 2nd premolar tooth. Its usual opening was in a postero-superior direction.