Abstract

*Ananda Najib Arshad, Dayang L. Zain and Jaclyn Karpal Francissca

The aim of the study is to evaluate the location of the mental foramen between races and its effect on the clinical treatment plan decision. In human the mental foramen is normally present as a single opening on each side of the mandible. Previous studies found the size, shape, number, location, and the direction of the opening of the mental foramen have many variations and these variations are influenced by race and sometimes gender. Mental foramen may not be detected in panoramic radiographs and usually bifurcates at inferior superior or medial lateral plane. After this literature review, we can conclude that the location of the mental foramen is variable between races, in vertical and horizontal direction. 3D imaging is needed if difficulty finds to locate the foramen with 2D radiograph to avoid nerve damaging or impairment during surgical procedures.