Analysis of mental foramen in dry human mandibles of adult Nigerians.

Objective: This study was undertaken to investigate the dimensions number, shape and actual location of the mental foramen as well as to assess the occurrence of accessory mental foramen in dry human mandibles of adult Nigerians. It also considered the distances between the foramen and some anatomical landmarks.

Method: A total of 54 adult dry human mandibles obtained from bone collections in the department of Anatomy of selected Nigerian Universities were used for this study. The sliding digital caliper was used for taking measurements from mental foramen to symphysismenti, posterior border of ramus, lower and superior borders of the mandible. The vertical and transverse diameters of the mental foramen were also measured.

Results: The most common location of the mental foramen was in line with the second premolar tooth (64.8%). The oval shape occurred more (63.6% on the left side and 56.6% on the right side) than the round shape. The dominant mental foramen was single mental foramen (76.9%) and there was no significant association between occurrence, location and shape of mental foramen and sides of the mandibles in this study (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: This study will be of clinical relevance to the dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and anaesthetists. It will also be useful to the anthropologists and archeologists in identification and population studies.