Evaluation of Mental Foramen Location – A Review Article

Abstract

Abstract: One of the most vital anatomical structure within the mandible is the mental foramen. The significance of this structure come since it is the anatomical opening of mandibular canal on the mandible bilaterally. The neuro-vascular complex leaving from the foramen has a critical and important role and giving supply to the skin and muscles of the chin, lower lip, the associated gingiva and mucosa following to the lower premolars. Subsequently, the location knowledge of the mental foramen considers an awfully significant for dental specialists to dodge harming this imperative structure via the dental working on this region, as in dental anaesthesia, dental surgery, dental anaesthesia and root canal treatment.
 The aim of study: The point of the think about: To assess the site of the mental foramen in relative to the mandibular premolars, depended on the panoramic and CBCT and O.P.G images.
 Materials and Methods: The current study involved the previous articles published from 1997 till 2019, with respect to the site of mental foramen in elderly and adult patients, in any case of the gender. All these studies were used on either the panoramic and cone-beam computed tomographic images for visualizing the site of the mental foramen.
 Results: Regarding the outcomes of the previous studies included in this review, the statistics appeared that the first common area of mental foramen was beneath the apices of lower second premolars in the percentage of 49.99%, the other second common area of mental foramen was between the apices of the lower first and second premolars in the percentage of 42.30%.
 Conclusion: The mental foramen was mostly found beneath the apices of lower first and second premolars and then between the apices of the lower first and second premolars.