Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M A Pyle.
In the elderly, oral health has a profound impact on general well-being. The ability to quickly identify potentially harmful oral health problems is valuable to the physician, who generally will see an older patient more often than the dentist will.
The occurrence of retromolar foramina (RMF) was examined in a sample of dry skulls (African American n = 249; Causcasian n = 226) to consider the potential clinical impact. A prevalence rate of 7.8% of RMF was found. There were no statistical differences based on race or gender. The prevalence may contribute to the explanation of a portion of inferior alveolar nerve block failures and provide insight into potential implications of surgery in the posterior mandible.