International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 2, Issue: 4, July 2014, Pages 144-150 144 www.ijhbr.com ISSN: 2319-7072 Original article: Mental foramen: a morphological and morphometrical study *Rahul Rai , **Shailaza Shrestha, ***Sudha Jha *Department of Anatomy, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Center Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh-244001 **Department of Biochemistry, Goldfield Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Chhainsa, Ballabhgarh, Faridabad- 121004 (Haryana) ***Department of Biochemistry, Goldfield Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Chhainsa, Ballabhgarh, Faridabad- 121004 (Haryana), India Corresponding author: Dr Rahul Rai Date of submission: 12 May 2014; Date of Publication: 25 July 2014 Abstract: Introduction: Studying the position of mental foramen and its morphological variations help to localize the mental nerve and thus prevent complications during surgical procedures. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in 40 dry adult human mandibles in the department of anatomy, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Center. Parameters like incidence, position, direction, shape and diameters of mental foramen were studied. Direction was determined using an office pin and diameters using vernier caliper. Results: Mental foramen was present bilaterally in all the mandibles studied. The most prevalent shape was found to be round on both sides (75% on right and 60% on the left sides). The most common position was between the 2 nd premolar and 1 st molar on the right (P5 65%) and between 1 st and 2 nd premolars on the left side (P3 40%). We found the higher incidence of anteriorly directed mental foramen on both sides (62.5% on right and 57.5% on left). The mean vertical diameters were 2.3±0.64mm on right and 2.29±0.6mm on left sides whereas the mean horizontal diameters were 2.63±0.85mm and 2.61±0.85mm on right and left sides respectively. Conclusion: Our data may provide useful information to the dental surgeons to carry out nerve block and surgical procedures like apical curettage of mandibular premolars and periodontal surgery. We could not observe accessory mental foramen (AMF) in any of the 40 mandibles studied. It might be due to less number of samples. Key words: Mental foramen (MF), Vertical diameter(VD), Horizontal diameter(HD), premolar, molar, Accessory Mental Foramen (AMF) Introduction The mental foramen is located on the anterolateral aspect of the body of mandible, somewhat midway between the superior (alveolar) and inferior borders [1] . It has been shown to be located precisely at the same levels in most humans (13-15mm superior to inferior border of the mandible [2] . While some showed the most prevalent position to be between the premolars, others reported it to be in the line with long axis of second premolar [3] . Standard anatomical and radiological text books contain conflicting statements regarding the location of mental foramen. Schaeffer stated that mental foramen was located between the spaces of mandibular premolars. The position of mental foramen may be between the apex of lower premolars or below the apex of second premolar. According to Tebo and Telford, location of mental foramen is below the apex of second