Authors: Mehtab Ahmad , Aneela Shabbir , Shanzay Ghazanfar , Haseeb Hassan , Hammad Hassan , Arooj ul Hassan

Abstract

Background and Objective: Accurate identification of the mental foramen position is crucial for clinicians to prevent nerve injury and improve the safety of dental procedures. The study aims to evaluate the positional variability of the mental foramen (MF) in the mandible, and its comparison with age, side of the jaw, and gender. 
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at the “Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department” of Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore, Pakistan from October 5, 2023, to April 10, 2024. A total of 190 patients over the age of 18 with complete skeletal development were selected using purposive non-probability sampling. “Cone-Beam Computed Tomography” (CBCT) scans were utilized to measure the closeness of the MF to the alveolar-crest and the mandible’s lower edge. An independent sample t-test was employed to determine differences based on age, gender, and jaw side.
Results: The study revealed significant gender differences in MF positioning. Males had larger mean distances from the alveolar crest (9.35 ± 5.06 mm) and lower border of the mandible (15.05 ± 5.06 mm) to the MF compared to females, who measured 6.07 ± 3.36 mm and 11.77 ± 3.36 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). Age differences were significant only for the distance from the alveolar crest, with younger individuals (18-30 years) showing greater distances than older individuals (31-45 years) (p = 0.009). No statistically significant difference was reported between the right and the left sides (p=0.13).
Conclusion:  There was a significant gender-based variation in the anatomical positioning of the MF with males exhibiting greater distances from both the alveolar crest and the lower border of the mandible. The utility of CBCT imaging in facilitating precise localization of the MF and contributing to safer surgical planning is invaluable.

Keywords: Anatomical Variation, Anatomy, Cone-Beam Computed Tomography, Mandibular Nerve, Mental Foramen, Nerve Injury