An International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Clinics

Register      Login

SEARCH WITHIN CONTENT

FIND ARTICLE

Volume / Issue

Online First

Archive
Volume  15 (2023)
Volume  14 (2022)
Volume  13 (2021)
Volume  12 (2020)
Volume  11 (2019)
Volume  10 (2018)
Volume  9 (2017)
Volume  8 (2016)
Volume  7 (2015)
Volume  6 (2014)
Volume  5 (2013)
Volume  4 (2012)
Volume  3 (2011)
Volume  2 (2010)
Volume  1 (2009)
Related articles

VOLUME 5 , ISSUE 1 ( Number, 2013 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

A New External Landmark for Mental Foramen

Jumroon Tungkeeratichai, Thongchai Bhongmakapat, Porncharn Saitongdee, Pisamai Orathai

Keywords : External landmark,Mental foramen,Cheilions

Citation Information : Tungkeeratichai J, Bhongmakapat T, Saitongdee P, Orathai P. A New External Landmark for Mental Foramen. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Clin 2013; 5 (1):29-33.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10003-1107

Published Online: 01-08-2013

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2013; The Author(s).


Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to establish a new external landmark of mental foramen to help facilitate prediction of the location during local anesthesia and during surgery of mandibular region.

Materials and methods

One hundred and ten adult Thai cadavers of 61 males and 49 females from Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University were included in this study. The anatomy of mental foramen in 110 adult Thai cadavers (220 sides) was studied from 2008 until 2011. Measurements in vertical plane were made: (i) From gingival sulcus to mental foramen = A, (ii) from mental foramen to inferior border of mandible = B, and (iii) the ratio of A/A + B = D.

Measurements in horizontal plane were also made: (i) From symphysis menti to the mental foramen = S (in straight line and not related to mandibular curvature), and (ii) from symphysis menti to the mental foramen = C (in curved line related to mandibular curvature), and (iii) in relation to position of lower tooth/teeth, and (iv) in relation to cheilions (corners of the mouth).

Results

The results included 61 male and 49 female cadavers. On the right side, the proportion of A/A + B (D) of male and female was 0.50 and 0.46. On the left side, the proportion of A/A + B (D) of male and female was 0.50 and 0.46. The location of right and left cheilion was related with the position of mental foramen, mostly at center (male: 63.93 and 70.49%, female: 61.22 and 73.47%). If center ± 0.3 cm it was possible to find the mental foramen more easily than the point of the center (male: 95.08 and 91.80%, female: 87.76 and 93.88%). If center ± 0.5 cm, it could find the mental foramen more easily than the point of the center ± 0.3 cm (male: 98.36 and 98.36%, female: 95.92 and 97.96%).

Conclusion

The knowledge gained from this study is quite important, since it helps the surgeon to easily identify the mental foramen prior to surgery which is halfway between gingival sulcus and inferior border of mandible in vertical plane and at the cheilion position in horizontal plane.

How to cite this article

Tungkeeratichai J, Bhongmakapat T, Saitongdee P, Orathai P. A New External Landmark for Mental Foramen. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Clin 2013;5(1):29-33.

PDF Share
  1. The mental foramen and nerve: Clinical and anatomical factors related to dental implant placement: A literature review. J Periodontol 2006;77(12):1933–43.
  2. Position of the mental foramen in a Northern regional Jordanian population. Surg Radiol Anat 2007;29(3):231–37.
  3. Supraorbital notch/foramen, infraorbital foramen and mental foramen in Thais: Anthropometric measurements and surgical relevance. J Med Assoc Thai 2006;89(5):675–82.
  4. Location of mental foramen in Thai skulls. J Dent Assoc Thai 1975;25:295–302.
  5. A comparison of the position of the mental foramen in Chinese and British mandibles. Acta Anat (Basel) 1990;137:208–12.
  6. An anthropometric analysis of the key foramina for maxillofacial surgery. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2003;61:354–57.
  7. Localization of important facial foramina encountered in maxillofacial surgery. Clin Anat 2008;21:633–40.
  8. A clinical and anatomical study of the location of the mental foramen in adult Chinese mandibles. Acta Anat (Basel) 1986;126:29–33.
  9. Position of the mental foramen in a Korean population: A clinical and radiographic study. Implant Dent 2006;15:404–11.
  10. The position of the mental foramen: A comparison between the Southern (Hong Kong) Chinese and other ethnic and racial groups. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1987;63:287–90.
  11. The direction and position of the mental foramen in the great apes and man. Am Phys Anthropol 1954;12:503–18.
  12. The mental foramen in Thais. R Thai Air Force Med Gaz 1985;31:141–46.
  13. The location of the mental foramen in a selected Malay population. J Oral Sci 2003;45:171–75.
  14. Location of the infraorbital and mental foramen with reference to the soft-tissue landmarks. Plas Reconstr Surg 2007;120(5):1343–47.
  15. Location of mental foramen based on soft- and hard-tissue landmarks in a Chinese Population. J Craniofac Surg 2009;20(6): 2235–37.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.