ANATOMICAL STUDY OF MANDIBULAR FORAMEN IN DRY ADULT HUMAN MANDIBLES IN BIHAR STATE REGION

Abstract

Background: The morphological knowledge of the mandibular foramen is very important during dental procedures involving lower jaw, as structures that pass through this foramen are at risk. Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block is the most frequently used nerve block technique in dental practice. Location of mandibular foramen is clinically important in Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block, dentoalveolar surgery planning, and various endodontic treatments. Present study aimed to locate the precise location of mandibular foramen in relation to the borders of the mandibular ramus, its distances from different bone landmarks on internal surface of ramus of dry mandible and incidence of occurrence of accessory mandibular foramen in local population. Material And Methods: Present study was a cross-sectional study of 50 (fty) dry adult human mandibles, obtained from the dissection room of the department of Anatomy, NMCH, Patna, Bihar. Location of MF(Mandibular foramen) from various parameters was determined with digital Vernier calipers. The presence of accessory mandibular foramen in and around mandibular foramen on the medial surface of mandibular ramus was by simple visual observation with the help of a magnifying lens and their prevalence rate was noted. All the above parameters were carefully documented and statistically analysed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Student's t test was used as test of signicance to compare the mean values of right and left sides and a P-value less than 0.05 was taken to be statistically signicant. Results: Total 50 dry adult human mandibles were studied. The mean distance of mandibular foramina to anterior border of ramus was 16.97 ± 2.13 (R) mm and 17.04 ± 2.72mm(L), to posterior border was (R): 13.73 ± 2.28 mm and (L): 14.16 ± 2. 05 mm, to mandibular notch was (R): 20.50 ± 2.11 mm and (L): 20.10 ± 2.82 mm and to inferior border was (R): 26.93 ± 3.09 mm and (L): 26.37 ± 4.25 mm. We noted that there was no signicant difference in the values on the right and left sides (p>0.05). All mandibles (100%) have bilateral mandibular foramen. Unilaterally Single Accessory mandibular foramen was present in 11 (22%) mandibles. Unilaterally double accessory mandibular foramen was present in 06 (12%). Bilateral double accessory mandibular foramen was noted in 02(04%) mandibles only. Bilateral single accessory mandibular foramen was noted in 04(08%) mandibles. Conclusion: Present study provides valuable information regarding distances between mandibular foramen and surgically encountered anatomical landmarks, which is very useful to dental surgeons.