title: Radiographic localization of the mental foramen and mandibular canal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Accurately localizing the mental foramen and mandibular canal is important when administering local anesthesia and performing surgery; therefore, knowing the normal range of the possible locations is essential. Our purpose was to assess the location of the mental foramen and mandibular canal in an Iranian population using panoramic radiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard panoramic radiographies were performed. The positions of 100 mental foramens were evaluated. The distances from the center of the mental foramen to the superior and inferior borders of the mandible and to the apexes of the first and second premolar were measured. The distance of the mental foramens from the mandibular midline and the diameter of the mandibular canal in the mental foramen connection were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 100 mental foramens, 6% were positioned under the first premolar, 24% were between the first and second premolars, 67% were under the second premolar, and the remaining 3% were behind the second premolar. The mean distance from the mental foramen to the mandibular midline was 27.77±3.20 mm. The mean diameter of the mandibular canal in the mental foramen connection was 3.09±0.69mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mental foramen was near the second premolar and the inferior border of the mandible. This information can be used to perform safer mental nerve blocks in surgical interventions.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Endodontics, Faulty of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Afkhami
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faulty of Dentistry, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haraji
authors.affiliation: Private Practitioner, Periodontist, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Boostani
keywords: Anatomical Landmarks; Mandible; Mandible Radiography; Mandibular Nerve; Panoramic Radiography