Location Study On Mandibular Foramen In Adults With Digital Image Of Orthopanotomography

Objective To study the location of mandibular foramen in male and female with digital image of orthopanotomography.Methods 60 cases of patients, orthopantomography were used for the survey. The range of patients, age was from 18 years old to 28 years old. The dimensions from the center of mandibular foramen to the lowest point of sigmoid notch (SA), to the inferior margin of ramus (SB), to the anterior border of ramus (SD), to the posterior border of ramus (SC) were measured. Then the indexes of the location were calculated.Results The distance of SA in male were 20.53±2.17mm,in female were18.41±2.28mm. The distance of SB in male were 27.27±2.43mm,in female were24.99±2.29 mm The distance of SC in male were 14.96±2.78mm,in female were13.78±2.35mm. The distance of SD in male were15.82±2.01mm,in female were14.76±2.14 mm. The superior- inferior index in male were 42.94±0.034, 42.36±0.034 in female. The anterior- posterior index in male were 51.60±0.057, 51.87±0.046 in female.Conclusion The difference of dimensions from the center of mandibular foramen to four margins of the ramus between male and female were significant, between left and right were not significant. The mandibular foramen was situated at somewhat posterior- superiorly portion of the ramus. The shape of the mandibular arch did not effect on the indexes of the location.