Radiographic Determination of Positioning & Symmetry of Mental Foramen

The mental foramen is a funnel-like opening in the lateral surface of the mandible at the terminus of the mandibular canal. This foramen is contained entirely within the buccal cortical plate of bone. Generally the mental foramen is difficult to locate. There are no absolute anatomical landmarks for reference and the foramen cannot be clinically visualised or palpated. As a result, the reported anatomical position of the mental foramen has been variable and the most common location being below the apex of the second premolar or between the apices of first and second premolars. The position of this foramen varies among races and genders. There has been variations in the mental foramen ranging from difference in shape and positions to presence of accessory foramen or even complete absence in some cases. Knowledge of the positioning of the mental foramen is important when administering regional anesthesia, orthodontic tooth movement/surgery and performing periapical surgery in the mental region of the mandible or evaluation of implant surgical site. An understanding of the anatomy of the location of these block and avoiding injuries to the neurovascular bundles