Aim: To predict the age of patients on the basis of vertical position of mental foramen and assess the variations in vertical position and vertical diameter of the mental foramen in dentulous, partially edentulous and edentulous patients on panoramic radiograph. Material and Method: The panoramic radiographs of 560 subjects were evaluated. In 60 subjects mental foramina could not be identified on the panoramic radiographs so they were excluded from  study. The study population included subjects of all age groups. The maximum subjects were in 20-29 years age group followed by 30-39 years and 40-49 years age groups. The data were analyzed using one way ANOVA (Analysis of variance),  Duncan’s Multiple Range test,  Post-hoc analysis of ANOVA and T-test. Result: Mean relative vertical position of mental foramen between each age group showed very high statistical difference (P<0.001). Younger age group has high relative vertical position with maximum in lessthen 20 years age group and older age groups showed low relative vertical position with least in Greater then equal to 80 years age group. The age of any individual can be predicted on the basis of mathematical equations derived from linear regression analysis. Mean relative vertical position in all three status of dentition groups i.e., dentulous, partially edentulous and edentulous subjects showed highly significant (p<0.001) difference. The vertical position was highest in dentulous subjects followed by partially edentulous subjects and least in edentulous subjects. Mean vertical diameter of mental foramen between each age group, gender wise and dentition wise did not show any statistical difference. Conclusion: From the mathematical equations derived by linear regression analysis the age of a subject can be predicted with high sensitivity. However due to ethnic, racial, geographical, genetic and environmental factors vertical positions of mental foramen varies from population to population. It was concluded that equations obtained by linear regression analysis may be used as a tool for age estimation in medico-legal cases and clinical dentistry.

Keywords: Mental Foramen; Panoramic Radiograph; Mandible; Premolars; Molars.