Comparative Evaluation of Morphometry of Mental Foramen using Orthopantomogram and Dry Bones in North Indian Population

Abstract

Introduction: Mental Foramen (MF) holds strategic importance in clinical dentistry and oral surgery. Its accurate identification determines the effectiveness of nerve blocks and prevention of postoperative neurovascular complications. Aim: To compare mental foramen on dry bones with their orthopantomogram and to find out if any difference and correlation exist between both modalities . Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at Anatomy Department of Government Medical college Amritsar, Punjab, India, from January 2018 to December 2021. It comprised of 200 dry human mandibles belonging to either sex, ranging from dentulous to partial dentulous. Orthopantomagram (OPG) of same mandibles were taken. Study was conducted in two phases. Phase I was dry bone phase and Phase II was radiographic phase. Distance of mental foramen from symphysis menti, posterior border of ramus, alveolar crest, lower border of body of mandible and distance between depth of the socket and mental foramen were evaluated. Student’s t-test for comparison and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were applied to find any correlation between two modalities . Results: Distance of mental foramen from symphysis menti, posterior border of ramus of mandible, alveolar crest and depth of socket showed statistically significant difference (p-value <0.001) in between dry bone and orthopantomogram on both right and left sides. Actual bone length from mental foramen to symphysis menti,to posterior border of ramus and inferior border of body of mandible was more than it appeared on OPG. Distances obtained with OPG from MF to alveolar crest (dry bone: Right= 13.49±3.46 mm; Left= 13.42±3.49 mm and on OPG: Right= 16±4.15 mm; Left= 15.42±3.84 mm) and to depth of socket (dry bone: Right= 2.48±1.58 mm; Left= 2.70±1.68 mm and on OPG: Right= 3.69±2.08 mm; Left= 4.26±1.99 mm) were magnified. Conclusion: The results of the present study depicted that structures were not equally magnified. Knowledge about magnification at particular region is important before proceeding any surgery in that region.