Significance of localization of mandibular foramen in an inferior alveolar nerve block

Abstract

Background:The mandibular foramen (MF) is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus for divisions of the mandibular vessels and nerve to pass. The aim of this study is to determine the position of the MF from various anatomical landmarks in several dry adult mandibles.Materials and Methods:A total of 102 human dry mandibles were examined, of which 93 were of dentulous and 9 were of edentulous. The measurements were taken from the anterior border of the ramus (coronoid notch) to the midportion of the MF and then from the midportion of the MF to the other landmarks such as internal oblique ridge, inferior border, sigmoid notch, and condyle were measured and recorded.Results:The data were compared using Student's t-test. The MF is positioned at a mean distance of 19 mm (with SD 2.34) from coronoid notch of the anterior border of the ramus. Superio-inferiorly from the condyle to the inferior border MF is situated 5 mm inferior to the midpoint of condyle to the inferior border distance (ramus height).Conclusion:We conclude that failures in the anesthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve are due to the operator error and not due to the anatomical variation.

Dental intervention perspective: Anatomical Variation of Mental and Mandibular Foramen in Selected Malay Patients

“…It's similar to study by Thangavelu et al 6 2012. Moreover, the height from occlusal plane to mandibular foramen is more on left side compared to right side in both gender of Malay Based on the findings it may be concluded that there is no association between mental and mandibular foramen's variation in anatomical position in Malay population for both gender.…”

“…1,4,5,6 In this study, it shows (Fig.1, Fig2) that there were no relationship between the positions of the mandibular foramen to the mental foramen. It means that there is no change in term of the position of mandibular foramen in relation to the mental foramen.…”

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Mandibular Foramen Location: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study

“…This result clearly showed that MF is positioned nearly 1.58 mm behind the midpoint of the ramus horizontally 4.27 mm above the midpoint vertically. Thangaveu et al [6] and Findik et al [2] mentioned similar position for MF.…”

“…The knowledge of the MF position is of a cardinal importance for surgical procedures in dentistry and enables a more effective anesthesia that provides easier patient conditions [6]. Researchers have been studied to investigate the position of MF using dry mandibles and radiographic techniques such as panoramic, lateral oblique, cephalometric radiography and CT [1,3,9,10] Thanks to recent developments in CBCT technology, MF position investigation by using a 3-dimentional plane and measurement points has become easier [4].…”

“…So the appropriate setting of the needle by the operator to the possible accurate location of MF is very important in success of anesthesia [6].…”