Localization of Mandibular Foramen and Clinical Implications

Abstract

ABSTRACT - The mandibular foramen constitutes an anatomical repair to anesthetics and surgical procedures. Its localization is surrounded by difficulties and a source of disagreement. The goal of this investigation was to identify the MF location in human mandibles presenting variable number of teeth and in edentulous ones. And from the data given by the literature, short anesthetic needles were analyzed as to their suitability to block the inferior alveolar nerve by the pterygomandibular technique. The medial faces of 91 mandibular ramus were photographed. The exemplars presented different number of teeth, from none to 16. Measurements on the digital images were taken. The results revealed great variety on the position of mandibular foramen. They have been localized posterior and inferiorly to the middle point of the ramous on the majority of the exemplars, presenting no relation with the amount of teeth. In 95% of the sample, the reported length of short anesthetic needles seemed to be appropriated to the blockage of inferior alveolar nerve through pterygomandibular technique.