Characterization of the Mental Foramen in Fresh Frozen Specimens
Authors: Deliberador Tatiana Miranda , Filho Flares Baratto , Weiss Suyany Gabriely , Candido Bruno Fernando , Sadao Eduardo , Scariot Rafaela 
Published: June 2021

Mental foramen is an anatomical accident normally located between the root apices of the premolars, it can present several anatomical variations. Accurate knowledge of the variations in the position and size of the mental foramen and the presence of the mentual loop is fundamental for achieving successful anesthetic block before surgical procedures in the mandible, dental implants, root canal treatments, orthognathic surgeries, among others. Several researches have been done in attempts to detect the prevalence and location of the mental nerve loop, as well as to propose safe guidelines for the planning of implants in the inter‐ foraminal area. The aim of this study was to evaluate anatomic characteristics of the mental foramen in fresh cadavers and correlate the findings with sex. Thirty ‐nine mandible cadavers were submitted to dissection on both sides. Mental location was observed. Measurements of width and height of the foramen, as well as measurements of distances between foramens and distances from foramen to mental loop and loop to base of mandible were performed bilaterally with a digital caliper and with a millimeter ruler using the mental foramen as a reference. Data such sex and race were cataloged. All the measurements and demographic data were submitted to statistical analysis, with significance level of 0.05. Regarding mental location, the most common position of the mental nerve on the left side of the mandible was between the apexes of premolars roots and on the right side of the mandible was in the direction of second premolar. The width of the mental foramen, in the right side, was 4 mm (2 – 6), and the height was 3 mm (1 – 5). In the left side, the width and height were the same with a median of 3 mm. Of the 39 cadavers evaluated, 26 presented the mental loop on the right side while 25 on the left side. The size of the right loop had a mean of 6.42 mm and on the left side the mean was 6.16 mm. The distance from the loop to the base of the mandible had a mean of 10.44 mm on the right side and 10.40 mm on the left side. The mean distance between the foramens was 43.95 ± 4.7 mm. There is no difference when compared all the measures obtained in the right and left side of the mandible (p > 0.05). With relation to sex, the distance between foramens and mandible base on the left side and the distance between loop to mandible were smaller in women (p= 0.003 and p = 0.004, respectively). There was no significant difference among other measures and sex, in the present study (p > 0.05). We concluded that mental foramen location changes in the same mandible and a percentage of 66% of the mandibles had the mental loop. The distance between loop to mandible base on the right side and the distance between foramen and mandible base on the left side are smaller in women.

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This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.