The Mental Foramen I: Radiographic Study of the Anterior- Posterior Position and Shape in Iraqi Population Foramen Mental I: Estudio Radiográfico de su Posición Antero-posterior y Forma en Población Iraquí

AL-SHAYYAB, M. H.; ALSOLEIHAT, F.; DAR-ODEH, N. S.; RYALAT, S. & BAQAIN, Z. H. The mental foramen I: radiographicstudy of the anterior-posterior position and shape in Iraqi population. Int. J. Morphol., 33(1):149-157, 2015.SUMMARY: Accurate information regarding the horizontal location and shape of the mental foramen can have clinicalsignificance, such as reducing complications that may occur during maxillofacial surgical procedures involving the mental area. Geographicvariations were reported in these variables. The aim was to study the horizontal position and shape of the mental foramen, as seen onpanoramic radiographs of an Iraqi sample, to assess difference in these variables between sexes and age groups, and to assess s ymmetryof the mental foramen. 518 panoramic radiographs of a random Iraqi sample (257 males, 261 females, average age=46.5 years) wereevaluated with regard to the horizontal location, shape and symmetry of the mental foramina. The area between the long axes of the twomandibular premolars, and the round type were the most frequent horizontal location and shape of mental foramen, respectively. Ageadvancement was found to be associated with an increase in the frequency of more posterior positioning and irregular shape. Thehorizontal position and shape were asymmetrical in 21.6% and 31.6% of cases, respectively. The Symmetry in horizontal location andshape of mental foramina were found statistically significant between sexes (P=0.041), and between young and old age groups (P= 0.001),respectively. The most common horizontal location and shape of the mental foramen on panoramic radiographs in this group are be tweenthe two premolars, and the round type, respectively. This is in consistence with the findings of previous studies on other popu lations. Themental foramina have usually symmetrical horizontal locations and shapes.KEY WORDS: Mental foramen; Panoramic radiographs; Geographic variation; Iraqi population.