The position of the mental foramen in Asian Indians.

The modal or most common position of the mental foramen in the human mandible with respect to teeth appears to be below the second premolar regardless of race or age. The position of this structure was investigated in a sample of Asian Indians of unknown age or sex. In this study, 75.36% of 138 mandibular sides exhibited the position of the mental foramen to be located directly below the second premolar. In addition, 6.62% of the mandibles possessed accessory mental foramina. The results of this study do not support those reported in some commonly used textbooks on anatomy, anesthesia, and anthropology concerning the position of the mental foramen in the human mandible.