Abstract
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 clinicalrelevance to the dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and anaesthetists. It will also be useful to the anthropologists and archeologists in identification and population studies.
Keywords: Mental foramen, mental nerve, mandible, premolar tooth, morphology, morphometry, dental anaesthesia.
Résumé
Objective : Cette étude était entreprise pour investiguer les dimensions, nombre, forme et location actuelle du foramen mental aussi bien que d’évaluer l’occurrence de foramen mental secondaire dans des mandibules humaine sèche des adultes nigérians. Elle considérait aussi les distances entre le foramen et certains points de repère anatomique.
Méthode : Un total de 54 mandibules sèches d’adulte humaine obtenues des collections d’os dans le département d’Anatomie d’une sélection d’Universités nigériane étaient utilisées pour cette étude. L’instrument à calibre de mesure digital glissant était utilisé pour prendre les mesures du foramen mental à symphyse, bordure postérieure du ramus, bordures inferieure et supérieure de la mandibule. Les diamètres vertical et transverse du foramen mental étaient aussi mesurés.
Résultats: La location la plus commune du foramen mental était en ligne avec la deuxième dent prémolaire (64,8%). La forme ovale se présentait plus (63,6% sur le flanc gauche et 56,6% sur le flanc droit) que la forme ronde. Le foramen mental dominant était le foramen mental simple (76,9%) et il n’y avait pas une association significative entre occurrence, location et forme du foramen mental
et flancs des mandibules dans cette étude (P>0,05).
Conclusion: Cette étude serra d’une relevance clinique aux dentistes, oral et maxillo-facial chirurgiens et anesthésistes. Elle serra aussi utile aux anthropologues et archéologues dans les études d’identification et de population.
Mots clé: Foramen mental, nerf mental, mandibule, dent prémolaire, morphologie, morphométrie,anesthésie dentale.
Correspondence: Dr. Dennis E.O. Eboh, Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, PMB 1, Abraka, Nigeria. E-mail: drebohdennis@yahoo.com
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