title: Evaluation of the Position of Mental Foramen for Clinical and Forensic Significance in terms of Gender in Dentate Subjects by Digital Panoramic Radiographs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluation of the position of mental foramen aids in forensic, surgical, endodontic, as well as diagnostic procedures. Thus, in view of this, the present study was conducted among the population of Pune, a central part of India, to determine the most regular location of the mental foramen and to estimate difference in position of mental foramen based on gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present retrospective study was commenced on 200 digital panoramic radiographs of dentate patients. The location of the representation of the mental foramen was traced. Measurements for evaluating distance of superior and inferior borders of the foramen in relation to the lower border of the mandible were made using the reference lines drawn from anatomical landmarks. The data so obtained were statistically analyzed using chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common position of mental foramen among Pune population in horizontal plane in both male and female patients was in line with second premolar followed by position in between first and second premolar, whereas in the vertical plane, most common position was at or in line with apex of second premolar followed by in between apex of first and second premolar. The variation in length of superior and inferior border of the foramen in relation to lower border of the mandible with respect to gender was found to be significant, with p-value <0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no difference in position of mental foramen in horizontal and vertical planes based on gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stability of location of mental foramen and significant difference in length of superior and inferior border of the foramen in relation to lower border of the mandible with respect to gender offer its application in forensic identification of gender.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College and Hospital Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thakare
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College and Hospital Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mhapuskar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College and Hospital Pune, Maharashtra, India, Phone: +919501544877, e-mail: dhiremutt.d@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Darshan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hiremutt
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College and Hospital Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Versha R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Giroh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Kedarnath
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalyanpur
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Alpana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: Forensics; Mandible; Mental foramen Panoramic radiographs.