The mental foramen: Horizontal position and shape in Southeast Serbian population

• Main Authors: Popović Jelena, Daković-Bjelaković Marija, Gašić Jovanka, Nikolić Marija, Spasić Milan, Mitić Aleksandar, Barac Radomir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Antropološko društvo Srbije i Univerzitet u Nišu, Prirodno-matematički fakultet 2017-01-01
• Series: Glasnik Antropološkog Društva Srbije
• Subjects: mental foramen; mandible; panoramic radiograph
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1820-7936/2017/1820-79361752075P.pdf
• ISSN: 1820-7936; 1820-8827

The mental foramen is an important anatomic landmark not only in dentistry but also in forensics, and the knowledge about its accurate location is important in receiving local anesthesia, during surgical and endodontic procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine the most common position and shape of the mental foramen in the Southeast Serbian population. Three hundred panoramic radiographs were analyzed and the horizontal position of the mental foramen was determined according to the reference lines drawn at the longitudinal axes of the first and the second premolar and the mesial root of the first molar. In 62% of the cases mental foramen was between longitudinal axes of the first and the second premolar, in 21% it was in line with the second premolar, in 9% in line with the first premolar, in 8% between the axes of the second premolar and the first molar. The most common shape was round (54%). The horizontal position and shape were asymmetrical in 26% and 32% of the cases, respectively. The most common position of the mental foramen was between the first and the second premolar, while the most common shape was round. Knowledge about variable positions of the mental foramen is important in establishing diagnosis and clinical procedures in the region of the mandible.