Correlation of Mental Foramen Position and Type of Occlusion among Saudi Orthodontic Patients?A Radiographic Study
Author(s): Ahmed Abdullah Saeed Bahamid*
Abstract
Background: The knowledge of anatomy of mental foramen and its surrounding structures is of great significance while administering local anesthesia either for diagnostic, surgical or operative procedures like performing periapical surgery in the mental region of the mandible. Aim- This study strives to determine the shape, position, symmetry of MF and its continuity with the inferior dental canal (IDC) on a digital panoramic view and to find its correlation with Angle’s molar relations among the orthodontic patients in Saudi Arabia. This study also focuses on determining the correlation of inter-foramen distance in both genders in Riyadh population of Saudi Arabia. Subjects and methods- Panoramic radiographs (N=315) of orthodontic patients aged between 18-45 years seeking care at three different clinics of Riyadh Elm University were examined in this study. The assessment of occlusion was based on Angle’s molar relationships. The data obtained was then analyzed statistically. Result- A total of (N=315) panoramic radiographs belonging to the patients were screened for the mental foramen parameters. Most of the panoramic radiographs belonged to the female patients 176 (55.9%) having Saudi nationality 310 (98.4%) undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment 314 (99.7%). Majority of the radiographs were belonged to the patients having Angle’s class I occlusion. Mental foramen showed significant changes in position, symmetry, shape and continuity across different class of malocclusion, however, no such differences were observed in regards to gender. Conclusion- Accurate and adequate knowledge is important for dental practitioners regarding variations in anatomical and morphological appearance and position of the Mental Foramen for the isolation of mental nerves and vessels so as to perform safer mental nerve blocks in surgical interventions. The commonest MF position was aligned between the 1st and 2nd premolars.