European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction: Mental foramen (MTF) is an opening in lateral surface of mandible with clinical importance in local anesthesia and surgical procedures in terms of achieving effective mental nerve blocks and avoiding injuries to the neurovascular bundles. Aims: To determine morphology and morphometry of mental foramen of central Indian population, hitherto unreported. Material and methods: 80 mandibles, 40 male and 40 female dry dentulus, without deformities were examined for position, shape, and number of mental foramen on right and left sides. Results: Various parameters investigated are( 1) the horizontal distance between the symphysis menti and MTF was 25.54 mm, on left side and 24.80 mm on right side in males, 24.72 on left side and 24.67 in females.(2) MTF and posterior border of ramus was 66.85 mm on left side and 67.68 mm on right side in male,62.71 mm on left side and 65.62 on right side in females.(3) MTF and mandibular base was 13.18 mm on left side and 13.32 mm on right side in males and 13.03 on left side and 12.97 mm on right side in females. (4) MTF and alveolar crest was 14.33 mm on left side and 14.3 mm on right side in males, 12.60 mm on left side and 13.13 on right side in females. (4) Occurrence of MTF below the second premolar tooth was found to be highest. Average size of MTF was larger on right side and it's way of exit was in postero-superior direction. Shape of MTF round in 81.8%, and oval in 18.2 % of male and female on left side. 82.5% round and 17.5% oval in male and 92.5% round and 7.5% oval in female on right side. Conclusion: In the present study, most common position of MTF was found below the apex of second premolar in 73.9% of males and 67.5% of females on both sides. Shape of MTF is round in majority of mandibles. During surgical procedures on mandible this information is helpful to the surgeon