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Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the most common location of the mental foramen (MF), its gender differences and bilateral symmetry in a selected Indian population and to compare the results with those reported for other populations.
Materials and Methods: 500 digital panoramic radiographs (DPR) of a randomly selected Indian population were retrospectively studied.
Results: The commonest position of the mental foramen was located between the first and second premolars (46.1%) followed closely by in line with the longitudinal axis of the second premolar (45.5%). MF was symmetrical in 64.8% of patients.
Conclusions: Mental foramina are usually symmetrically located either mesial to or in line with second premolar, consistent with previous findings in other ethnic and racial groups.