Mental ridge is?

• A. A ridge on the mandible where teeth erupt
• B. A prominence of cortical bone on the buccal surface of the anterior mandible.
• C. A ridge on the maxillary sinus
• D. A groove on the lingual side

Answer: (B)

The mental ridge is a prominent feature of the lower jaw—specifically a ridge of cortical bone on the buccal (outer) surface of the anterior mandible. It forms the contour of the chin and is the palpable ridge you feel along the front of the lower jaw. It’s distinct from the alveolar ridge where teeth erupt, from any feature of the maxillary sinus, or from a groove on the lingual (tongue) side. So describing it as a prominence of cortical bone on the buccal surface of the anterior mandible accurately captures its location and nature.