Evaluation of the Age-Related Changes in Relative Position of Mandibular Foramen in Different Growth Patterns of Children: A Retrospective Radiographic Study

The Mandibular Foramen (MF) is a landmark for administering a local anaesthetic solution for Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block (IANB). The position of MF changes significantly amongst children of different ages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in relative position of the MF in children aged 3 to 13 as they transitioned from deciduous (Hellman's stage IIA) to early permanent dentition (Hellman's stage IVA). A total of 60 children's panoramic radiographs were used. Six linear measurements were taken on each OPG, two horizontal (L1), four vertical (L3, L4, L5, and L6), and two angular (A1 and A2). The Rakosi's criterion was used to determine growth patterns in OPGs of children aged 9 to 13, which were then divided into three groups based on the growth patterns. By comparing the linear and angular readings, the relative position of the MF was calculated. Tendency of MF to be positioned posteriorly with age was found in children aged 3 to 9, and the tendency of MF to be positioned anteriorly with age was found in children aged 9 to 13. The position of MF shifts posterosuperiorly in children with vertical growth patterns, while it shifts anteroinferiorly in children with horizontal growth patterns. As a result, in order to accomplish successful inferior alveolar nerve block, these changes in the position of the MF as a function of age and growth trends in the North Maharashtra population should be taken into account in clinical practice.