[Age changes in location of mandibular foramen].

In order to understand the changes in location of the mandibular foramen with age in children, lateral cephalometric radiographs from 112 child and adult patients, including both males and females, were randomly selected according to age. The subjects were divided into 6 age-groups; 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and adult. Certain lines and points were traced on the radiographs used. The location of the mandibular foramen was identified by two persons. The perpendicular distance from the center of the mandibular foramen to the occlusal plane and the location of the mandibular foramen relative to the ramus height (Ar-Kk), as well as to the ramus width (a-p), were measured. The mandibular foramen was located 4.12 mm below the occlusal plane at the age of 3. It subsequently moved upward with age. By the age of 9, it had reached approximately the same level as the occlusal plane. The foramen continued to move upward to 4.16 mm above the occlusal plane in the adult group. The height percentage averages ranged from the lower 1/3 of the ramus height in the 3 year-old group to the middle of the ramus height in adults. The depth percentage averages ranged from 67.8% in 3 year-old children to 61.7% in adults. For greater accuracy in anesthetic procedures, dentists should relate the locational changes in the mandibular foramen with age when performing block anesthesia for the inferior alveolar nerve.