THE MENTAL FORAMEN - HORIZONTAL POSITION AND SHAPE IN SOUTHEAST SERBIAN POPULATION

Jelena Popović; Marija Daković Bjelaković; Jovanka Gašić; Marija Nikolić; Milan Spasić; Aleksandar Mitić; Radomir Barac

doi:10.5937/gads52-14260

Jelena Popović Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dentistry, Medical faculty, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
Marija Daković Bjelaković Department of Anatomy, Medical faculty, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia;
Jovanka Gašić Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dentistry, Medical faculty, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
Marija Nikolić Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dentistry, Medical faculty, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
Milan Spasić Department of Oral Surgery, Clinic of Dentistry, Medical faculty, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
Aleksandar Mitić Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dentistry, Medical faculty, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
Radomir Barac Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dentistry, Medical faculty, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/gads52-14260

Keywords: youth, transition, adulthood,

Abstract

The mental foramen is an important anatomic landmark in dentistry, and the knowledge about its accurate location is important in gaining local anesthesia, during surgical and endodontic procedures, as well as in forensics. The purpose of this study was to determine the most common position and shape of the mental foramen in the Southeast Serbian population. Three hundered panoramic radiographs were analyzed and the horizontal position of the mental foramen was determined according to the reference lines drawn at the longitudinal axes of the first and the second premolar and the mesial root of the first molar. In 62% of the cases mental foramen was between longitudinal axes of the first and the second premolar, in 21% was in line with the second premolar, in 9% in line with the first premolar, in 8% between the axes of the second premolar and the first molar. The most common shape was round (54%). The horizontal position and shape were asymmetrical in 26% and 32% of the cases, respectively. The most common position of the mental foramen was between the first and the second premolar, while the most common shape was round. Knowledge about variable positions of the mental foramen is important in diagnosis and clinical procedures in the region of the mandible.