Variations Of Mental Foramen Research Articles

Panoramic radiographic study of mental foramen in selected dravidians of south Indian population: A hospital based study.

Background This study aimed at documenting information on appearance, size, horizontal and vertical locations of Mental Foramen (MF) in Panoramic Radiograph. We also analyzed the age and gender differences with radiographic appearance and location of MF. We evaluated these findings in our population and co-relate with results of previous studies. Material and Methods 1662 panoramic radiographs were evaluated, of which 245 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Each radiograph was traced to record the horizontal and vertical locations. The size of MF was recorded using digital caliper and its appearance was determined by visual examination. Chi-square and t-test were employed. Results The most common appearance of MF was continuous type and the tests showed significant difference with age and gender. The most frequent horizontal location of MF was “location c” with no statistical significant difference with age and gender. The MF was most commonly positioned mesially in relation to the apex of second premolar with no significant differences with gender. The vertical location of the foramen varied drastically with no statistical significant difference in both sides. The difference in dimensions on the left and right sides were not statistically significant. Conclusions Determining the morphological appearance and positional variation of MF is important for isolation of mental nerves and vessels when administering local anesthesia and performing surgeries. We therefore stress the importance of accurate radiographic identification of MF and interpretation. Our research findings can be used as reference material by the dental practitioners of South India while performing clinical procedures that involve MF. Key words:Mental foramen, mental nerve, panoramic radiograph, mandible.

Study of Number, Shape, Size and Position of Mental Foramen in Bangladeshi Dry Adult Human Mandible

Context: Paralysis of the mental nerve is one of the principal complications of surgery of the mandibular canal and mental foramen region. Therefore, identification of mental foramen is important for dental surgeons in nerve block and surgical procedures like apico curettage of mandibular premolars, amalgam filling, peridental surgery etc. to avoid injury to neurovascular bundle. Verification of the existence of accessory mental foramina would prevent accessory mental nerve injury during periapical surgery. Therefore, prior knowledge of morphology and morphometry of mental and accessory mental foramen to particular block may cause effective mental block anaesthesia. Besides this, mental foramen and accessory mental foramen have been found to vary in position in different ethnic groups. So, it is important to study the morphology and morphometry of mental foramen. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, analytical type of study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College using dried adult human mandibles of unknown sexes. Number and shapes of mental foramen and accessory mental foramen were observed. Size and position were determined by using digital sliding calipers. Result: Mental foramen was present in all one hundred and eighty five (185) observed mandibles and it was bilateral. Accessory mental foramen was present in 1.62% on left side while on right side, it was 0.54%. None of the mandibles presented with bilateral accessory mental foramen. Shape was predominantly oval with 55.7% on right side and 53.5% on left side while it was round in 44.3% on right side and 46.5% on left side. Mental foramen was commonly located between 1st and 2nd premolar, below 2nd premolar and between 2nd premolar and 1st molar. Conclusion: Prior knowledge of mental foramen variations helps surgeon in planning surgery in that region to avoid nerve damage and also for effective mental nerve block anaesthesia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bja.v11i1.20501 Bangladesh Journal of Anatomy, January 2013, Vol. 11 No. 1 pp 7-10

Assessment of open source software for CBCT in detecting additional mental foramina

The purpose of this study was to evaluate which post-processing imaging protocol would be better to analyze the additional mental foramen (AMF) in preoperative planning with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) exams, and to test reproducibility of measurements, using open source software (OsiriX). The software was used to detect the cases of AMF from among 58 exams for dental implant planning in edentulous mandible areas-three cases were found. The case images were submitted to qualitative analysis using 2D orthogonal MPR, 3D-MPR and 3D volume rendering protocols by two oral and maxillofacial radiologists. Quantitative analysis used the 3D-MPR protocol; the closed polygon tool measured the mental foramen (MF) and the AMF areas; the length tool measured the distance between foramina. The measurements were performed independently by the examiners, at two different times. Intra- and interexaminer agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. The panoramic view did not show the MF and the AMF clearly. The AMF could be detected in the parasagittal view. 2D Orthogonal MPR was effective to observe the AMF in some cases. The 3D-MPR and 3D view protocols were the most effective to locate and analyze the AMF. In conclusion, a 3D view improves visualization when anatomical points are not clearly visible. 3D-MPR was considered a more effective post-processing imaging protocol to observe foramina relationships. The high reproducibility of measurements for anatomical MF variations was established using specific tools featured in open source software for CBCT. OsiriX is realistic and recommended for preoperative planning.

Morphological and Morphometric analysis of mental foramen in dry human mandibles

Background: The position and its morphological variations of Mental Foramen are very important because it will be helpful to localize the important maxillofacial neurovascular bundle passing through. It is landmark to facilitate surgical, local anaesthetic and other invasive procedures for dental surgeons performing peri-apical surgery in the mental region of mandible. Aims & Objective: To Study morphological and morphometric analysis of mental foramen in dry human mandibles. Material and Methods: 50 dried adult human mandibles with complete dentition and intact alveolar margin of unknown sex were used for this study. The shape of MF observed was either oval or rounded. The morphometric measurements which were recorded using Vernier callipers. Results: The most commonly present position of the MF as related to the lower set of teeth was in line with the second premolar, i.e. Type 4 (64.7 % cases on the right and 66.7 % cases on the left side). Next common position was Type 3, i.e. between the premolars (21.6% on right and 19.6% on the left sides. The mean distance between symphysis mentii and anterior margin of MF was 23.3 mm and 22.5 mm, on the right and left sides respectively. Mean distance between posterior margin of MF and posterior border of ramus was 61.3 mm on the right side and 62.5 mm on the left side. Conclusion: The present study reveals valuable insights on the information concerning the morphology of mental foramen in various populations and races. The knowledge of the distances from surgically encountered anatomical landmarks in the present study provide valuable information to dental surgeons that will facilitate effective localization of the neurovascular bundle passing through mental foramen thus avoiding complications from local anaesthetic, surgical and other invasive procedures.

Study of position, shape, and size of mental foramen utilizing various parameters in dry adult human mandibles from north India.

Background. As the mental foramen (MF) is an important landmark to facilitate surgical, local anesthetic, and other invasive procedures, the present study was aimed to elucidate its morphological features and morphometric parameters with reference to surrounding landmarks. Material and Method. 105 dry adult human mandibles of unknown sex were observed for position, shape, and number of mental foramina. Their size was measured using a digital vernier caliper and statistically analyzed by mean and standard deviations (SD). Results. In most cases (74.3%), the MF was oval in shape and situated on the longitudinal axis of the 2nd premolar tooth (61% on right side and 59.1% on left side). The mean distance for the right and left sides was measured from various landmarks. Conclusion. Prior knowledge of mental foramen variations helps surgeons in planning surgery in that region to avoid nerve damage and also enable effective mental nerve block anesthesia.