Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Finding the mental foramen

  • Review
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The mental foramen and mental nerve are clinically important landmarks for clinicians across various disciplines including dentists, oral maxillofacial surgeons, emergency physicians and plastic and reconstructive surgeons. To minimize complications related to procedures in the vicinity of the mental foramen and nerve, knowledge of its anatomy and anatomical variations is cardinal to concerned clinicians. In this review, basic anatomy, procedural complications, hard and soft tissue relations, variations between population groups, asymmetry, accessory mental foramina and the use of various radiological modalities to determine the position of the mental foramen are reviewed to provide a more thorough understanding of this important landmark.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aktekin M, Celik HM, Celik HH, Aldur MM, Aksit MD (2003) Studies on the location of the mental foramen in Turkish mandibles. Morphologie 87:17–19

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Al Jasser NM, Nwoku AL (1998) Radiographic study of the mental foramen in a selected Saudi population. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 27:341–343. doi:10.1038/sj/dmfr/4600388

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Al-Khateeb T, Al-Hadi Hamasha A, Ababneh KT (2007) Position of the mental foramen in a northern regional Jordanian population. Surg Radiol Anat 29:231–237. doi:10.1007/s00276-007-0199-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Balcioglu HA, Kilic C, Akyol M, Ulusoy AT (2011) Horizontal migration of pre- and postnatal mental foramen: an anatomic study. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 75:1436–1441. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2011.08.010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bou Serhal C, Jacobs R, Flygare L, Quirynen M, van Steenberghe D (2002) Perioperative validation of localisation of the mental foramen. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 31:39–43. doi:10.1038/sj/dmfr/4600662

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cavalcanti MG, Yang J, Ruprecht A, Vannier MW (1998) Validation of spiral computed tomography for dental implants. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 27:329–333. doi:10.1038/sj/dmfr/4600386

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Chau A (2012) Comparison between the use of magnetic resonance imaging and conebeam computed tomography for mandibular nerve identification. Clin Oral Implants Res 23:253–256. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0501.2011.02188.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chrcanovic BR, Abreu MHNG, Custódio ALN (2011) Morphological variation in dentate and edentulous human mandibles. Surg Radiol Anat 33:203–213. doi:10.1007/s00276-010-0731-4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Chu RA, Nahas FX, Di Martino M, Soares FA, Novo NF, Smith RL, Ferreira LM (2014) The enigma of the mental foramen as it relates to plastic surgery. J Craniofac Surg 25:238–242. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000000445

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Coşkun F, Akıncı E, Ceyhan MA, Sahin Kavaklı H (2011) Our new stethoscope in the emergency department: handheld ultrasound. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg 17:488–492

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fernandes Da Silva Ramos, Capelozza ALA, Rubira-Bullen IRF (2011) Absence and hypoplasia of the mental foramen detected in CBCT images: a case report. Surg Radiol Anat 33:731–734. doi:10.1007/s00276-011-0795-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Fabian FM (1976) Position, shape and direction of opening of the mental foramen in dry mandibles of Tanzanian adult black males. Ital J Anat Embryol 112:169–177

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fishel D, Buchner A, Hershkowith A, Kaffe I (1976) Roentgenologic study of the mental foramen. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 41:682–686

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Forni A, Sánchez-Garcés MA, Gay-Escoda C (2012) Identification of the mental neurovascular bundle: a comparative study of panoramic radiography and computer tomography. Implant Dent 21:516–521. doi:10.1097/ID.0b013e318272ff1a

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Gada SK, Nagda SJ (2014) Assessment of position and bilateral symmetry of occurrence of mental foramen in dentate asian population. J Clin Diagn Res 8:203–205. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/7257.4060

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Green RM (1987) The position of the mental foramen: a comparison between the southern (Hong Kong) Chinese and other ethnic and racial groups. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 63:287–290

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Green RM, Darvell BW (1988) Tooth wear and the position of the mental foramen. Am J Phys Anthropol 77:69–75. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330770111

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Greenstein G, Tarnow D (2006) The mental foramen and nerve: clinical and anatomical factors related to dental implant placement: a literature review. J Periodontol 77:1933–1943. doi:10.1902/jop.2006.060197

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Guo JL, Su L, Zhao JL, Yang L, Lv DL, Li YQ, Cheng FB (2009) Location of mental foramen based on soft- and hard-tissue landmarks in a chinese population. J Craniofac Surg 20:2235–2237. doi:10.1097/SCS.0b013e3181bf85f4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gupta T (2008) Localization of important facial foramina encountered in maxillo-facial surgery. Clin Anat 21:633–640. doi:10.1002/ca.20688

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Haghanifar S, Rokouei M (2009) Radiographic evaluation of the mental foramen in a selected Iranian population. Indian J Dent Res 20:150–152. doi:10.4103/0970-9290.52886

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Igbigbi PS, Lebona S (2005) The position and dimensions of the mental foramen in adult Malawian mandibles. West Afr J Med 24:184–189

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Imada TSN, Fernandes LMP, da Silva R, Centurion BS, de Oliveira-Santos C, Honório HM, Rubira-Bullen IRF (2014) Accessory mental foramina: prevalence, position and diameter assessed by cone-beam computed tomography and digital panoramic radiographs. Clin Oral Implants Res 25:94–99. doi:10.1111/clr.12066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Jacobs R, Mraiwa N, Van Steenberghe D, Sanderink G, Quirynen M (2004) Appearance of the mandibular incisive canal on panoramic radiographs. Surg Radiol Anat 26:329–333. doi:10.1007/s00276-004-0242-2

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Jalili MR, Esmaeelinejad M, Bayat M, Aghdasi MM (2012) Appearance of anatomical structures of mandible on panoramic radiographs in Iranian population. Acta Odontol Scand 70:384–389. doi:10.3109/00016357.2011.629625

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kalender A, Orhan K, Aksoy U (2012) Evaluation of the mental foramen and accessory mental foramen in Turkish patients using cone-beam computed tomography images reconstructed from a volumetric rendering program. Clin Anat 25:584–592. doi:10.1002/ca.21277

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kim IS, Kim SG, Kim YK, Kim JD (2006) Position of the mental foramen in a Korean population: a clinical and radiographic study. Implant Dent 15:404–411. doi:10.1097/01.id.0000243319.66845.15

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Khojastepour L, Mirbeigi S, Mirhadi S, Safee A (2015) Location on mental foramen in a selected Iranian population: a CBCT assessment. Iran Endod J 10:117–121

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Kqiku L, Sivic E, Weiglein A, Städtler P (2011) Position of the mental foramen: an anatomical study. Wien Med Wochenschr 161:272–273. doi:10.1007/s10354-011-0898-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Kqiku L, Weiglein A, Kamberi B, Hoxha V, Meqa K, Städtler P (2013) Position of the mental foramen in Kosovarian population. Coll Antropol 37:545–549

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kulkarni S, Kumar S, Kamath S, Thakur S (2011) Accidental identification of accessory mental nerve and foramen during implant surgery. J Indian Soc Periodontol 15:70–73. doi:10.4103/0972-124X.82270

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Laster WS, Ludlow JB, Bailey LJ, Hershey HG (2005) Accuracy of measurements of mandibular anatomy and prediction of asymmetry in panoramic radiographic images. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 34:343–349. doi:10.1259/dmfr/28020783

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Leite GMF, Lana JP, de Carvalho Machado V, Manzi FR, Souza PEA, Horta MCR (2013) Anatomic variations and lesions of the mandibular canal detected by cone beam computed tomography. Surg Radiol Anat 36:795–804. doi:10.1007/s00276-013-1247-5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Liang X, Jacobs R, Hassan B, Li L, Pauwels R, Corpas L, Lambrichts I (2010) A comparative evaluation of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and Multi-Slice CT (MSCT) Part I. On subjective image quality. Eur J Radiol 75:265–269. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.03.042

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Loudon J (2011) Beware the mental foramen. Br Dent J 210:293. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.249

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Mbajiorgu EF, Mawera G, Asala SA, Zivanovic S (1998) Position of the mental foramen in adult black Zimbabwean mandibles: a clinical anatomical study. Cent Afr J Med 44:24–30

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Meechan JG (2011) The use of the mandibular infiltration anesthetic technique in adults. J Am Dent Assoc 142(Suppl):19S–24S

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Moiseiwitsch JR (1998) Position of the mental foramen in a North American, white population. Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 85:457–460

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Mwaniki DL, Hassanali J (1992) The position of mandibular and mental foramina in Kenyan African mandibles. East Afr Med J 69:210–213

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Naitoh M, Hiraiwa Y, Aimiya H, Gotoh K, Ariji E (2009) Accessory mental foramen assessment using cone-beam computed tomography. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 107:289–294. doi:10.1016/j.tripleo.2008.09.010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Neo J (1989) Position of the mental foramen in Singaporean Malays and Indians. Anesth Prog 36:276–278

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Neves FS, Torres MGG, Oliveira C, Campos PSF, Crusoé-Rebello I (2010) Lingual accessory mental foramen: a report of an extremely rare anatomical variation. J Oral Sci 52:501–503

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Ngeow WC, Yuzawati Y (2003) The location of the mental foramen in a selected Malay population. J Oral Sci 45:171–175

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Oguz O, Bozkir MG (2002) Evaluation of location of mandibular and mental foramina in dry, young, adult human male, dentulous mandibles. West Indian Med 51:14–16

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Olasoji HO, Tahir A, Ekanem AU, Abubakar AA (2004) Radiographic and anatomic locations of mental foramen in northern Nigerian adults. Niger Postgrad Med J 11:230–233

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Parnia F, Moslehifard E, Hafezeqoran A, Mahboub F, Mojaver-Kahnamoui H (2012) Characteristics of anatomical landmarks in the mandibular interforaminal region: a cone-beam computed tomography study. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 17:420–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Phillips JL, Weller RN, Kulild JC (1990) The mental foramen: 1. Size, orientation, and positional relationship to the mandibular second premolar. J Endod 16:221–223

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Phillips JL, Weller RN, Khulild JC (1992) The mental foramen: 3. Size and position on panoramic radiographs. J Endod 18:383–386

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Pria CM, Masood F, Beckerley JM, Carson RE (2011) Study of the inferior alveolar canal and mental foramen on digital panoramic images. J Contemp Dent Pract 12:265–271

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Ramadhan A, Messo E, Hirsch JM (2010) Anatomical variation of mental foramen. a case report. Stomatologija 12:93–96

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Ritter L, Mischkowski RA, Neugebauer J, Dreiseidler T, Scheer M, Keeve E, Zöller JE (2009) The influence of body mass index, age, implants, and dental restorations on image quality of cone beam computed tomography. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 108:108–116. doi:10.1016/j.tripleo.2009.05.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Sankar DK, Bhanu SP, Susan PJ (2011) Morphometrical and morphological study of mental foramen in dry dentulous mandibles of South Andhra population of India. Indian J Dent Res 22:542–546. doi:10.4103/0970-9290.90290

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Santini A, Alayan I (2012) A comparative anthropometric study of the position of the mental foramen in three populations. Br Dent J 212:E7. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.143

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Shah S, Vaze S, Kinhal K (2010) A variation in the position of the mental foramen: a case report. J Maxillofac Oral Surg 9:307–309. doi:10.1007/s12663-010-0079-7

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Shankland WE (1994) The position of the mental foramen in Asian Indians. J Oral Implantol 20:118–123

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Shibli JA, Martins MC, Loffredo LCM, Scaf G (2012) Detection of the mandibular canal and the mental foramen in panoramic radiographs: intraexaminer agreement. J Oral Implantol 38:27–31. doi:10.1563/AAID-JOI-D-09-00103.1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Smajilagić A, Dilberović F (2004) Clinical and anatomy study of the human mental foramen. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 4:15–23

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Smith JD, Surek CC, Cortez EA (2010) Localization of the supraorbital, infraorbital, and mental foramina using palpable, bony landmarks. Clin Anat. doi:10.1002/ca.20923

    Google Scholar 

  59. Smith MH, Lung KE (2006) Nerve injuries after dental injection: a review of the literature. J Can Dent Assoc 72:559–564

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Soikkonen K, Wolf J, Ainamo A, Xie Q (1995) Changes in the position of the mental foramen as a result of alveolar atrophy. J Oral Rehabil 22:831–833

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Song WC, Kim SH, Paik DJ, Han SH, Hu KS, Kim HJ, Koh KS (2007) Location of the infraorbital and mental foramen with reference to the soft-tissue landmarks. Plast Reconstr Surg 120:1343–1347. doi:10.1097/01.prs.0000279558.86727.5a

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Traxler M, Ulm C, Solar P, Lill W (1992) Sonographic measurement versus mapping for determination of residual ridge width. J Prosthet Dent 67:358–361

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Udhaya K, Saraladevi KV, Sridhar J (2013) The morphometric analysis of the mental foramen in adult dry human mandibles: a study on the South Indian population. J Clin Diagn Res 7:1547–1551. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2013/6060.3207

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Voljevica A, Talovic E, Hasanovic A (2015) Morphological and morphometric analysis of the shape, position, number and size of mental foramen on human mandibles. Acta Med Acad 44:31–38. doi:10.5644/ama2006-124.124

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Wells M (2010) Local and regional anaesthesia in the emergency department made easy. Elsevier, London

    Google Scholar 

  66. Xie Q, Soikkonen K, Wolf J, Mattila K, Gong M, Ainamo A (1996) Effect of head positioning in panoramic radiography on vertical measurements: an in vitro study. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 25:61–66. doi:10.1038/dmfr.25.2.9446974

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Yasar F, Yesilova E, Apaydın B (2012) The effects of compression on the image quality of digital panoramic radiographs. Clin Oral Investig 16:719–726. doi:10.1007/s00784-011-0587-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Yeşilyurt H, Aydinlioglu A, Kavakli A, Ekinci N, Eroglu C, Hacialiogullari M, Diyarbakirli S (2008) Local differences in the position of the mental foramen. Folia Morphol 67:32–35

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Emergency Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, 5 Jubilee Road, Parktown, 2193, South Africa

    Abdullah Ebrahim Laher, Feroza Motara, Muhammed Moolla & Zeyn Mahomed

  2. Division of Emergency Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, South Africa

    Mike Wells & Efraim Kramer

Authors
  1. Abdullah Ebrahim Laher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mike Wells
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Feroza Motara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Efraim Kramer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Muhammed Moolla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zeyn Mahomed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abdullah Ebrahim Laher.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Laher, A.E., Wells, M., Motara, F. et al. Finding the mental foramen. Surg Radiol Anat 38, 469–476 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1565-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1565-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation