Medha Babshet^1,, Sandeep R², Krishna Burde³, Kirty Nandimath³

Objectives: To assess the most common position of mental foramen in Indian population and to correlate the position with age and gender. Methods: In the present study five age groups from 15-76 years were made with 40 dentate patients in each. Digital panoramic radiograph of each patient was assessed for the position of mental foramen bilaterally using a modified technique. The correlation of position with age and sex was evaluated using chi square test and intra - observer variability using kappa statistics. Results: 43% of mental foramina were located in between first and second premolars and 39 % in line with second premolar. 66.3% of foramina on right side and 64% on left side were located more towards the second premolar based on modified method. The correlation of position on both right and left sides with age (p > 0.005) and sex (p > 0.005) was not significant statistically. Conclusion: The most common position of the mental foramen was between first and second premolar. The horizontal position of foramen did not vary with gender. Practically the foramen seemed to shift posteriorly with age, however statistically there was no correlation of position with age.

format, age, anatomic location, digital panoramic radiograph, mental foramen