Radiographic evaluation of position of mental foramen in western Indian population

Knowledge of the position of the mental foramen is important when administering regional anesthesia, orthodontic tooth movement/surgery and performing periapical surgery in the mental region of mandible. The mental foramen has been reported to vary in different ethnic groups. Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to identify the most common position of mental foramen on panoramic radiograph in the western Indian population. Its symmetry of location on right and left sides and gender differences were also analysed. Methods: 400 digital panoramic radiographs of randomly selected western Indian population were evaluated with the consideration that mental foramen was clearly visible. Results: In the analysis of the sample, it was found that the mental foramen is located anywhere between the long axis of 1st premolar to the long axis of 1st molar tooth, the most common location of mental foramen in the present study was in line with the 2nd premolar. Conclusion: The most common location of mental foramen drawn from this study is in line with 2nd premolar followed by between 1st and 2nd premolar tooth which is most of the times symmetrical on both right and left sides. There are no statistically significant differences regarding position and symmetry of mental foramen with gender.