COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY IN ASSESSMENT OF MENTAL ARTERY BLOOD FLOW

Abstract

Blood supply of the mandible comes mainly from hvo main sources; centrally from the Inferior Alveolar Artery (IAA), and peripherally frotn the periosteum covering the mandible. lAA is the largest branch of the first part of the internal maxillary artery and the second largest branch overall - after the middle meningeal artery - and is considered to be the primary

source of the blood supply to the mandible. (17 94 85 1 S) ' • • O

The Mental artery is the larger of the two tenninal branches of the IAA and leaves the mandible through the mental foramen together with the mental nerve as the mental neurovascular bundle.(94, 1 08)

It is well known that blood supply of any tissue is an important determinant of the healing process after injury or

. (70 107) operatiOn. '

These facts make it clear that mandibular hypoperfusion and ischemia are particular problems in the elderly patients and in those who have had radiotherapy. ( 12 73 • )

1axiUary artery is supposed to be more prone to atheroma than any other artery making the IAA particularly more liable to -occlusion from premature atherosclerosis. This has been suggested by many studies with unclear specific reason but for possible