A Rare Anatomical Finding: Bilateral Accessory Mental Foramen.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Anatomy

Background:

• Accessory mental foramen (AMF) is an uncommon anatomical variation of the mandible.
• Awareness of AMF is crucial for surgical procedures in the mental region to prevent complications.
• Standard radiography like Orthopantomograph (OPG) may not reliably detect AMF.

Observation:

• A 52-year-old male patient presented for rehabilitation of a partially edentulous lower jaw, with planned implant surgery.
• Initial OPG revealed no significant findings in the maxillofacial region.
• Pre-operative Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) identified bilateral accessory mental foramina (AMF).

Findings:

• CBCT and 3D reconstruction confirmed the presence of bilateral AMF.
• Accessory mental foramina (AMF) can contribute to innervation of the chin and mental region.
• These variations, though uncommon, may be missed on standard panoramic radiographs.

Implications:

• Identifying AMF pre-surgically is vital to prevent neurosensory disturbances and hemorrhage.
• Careful surgical planning and protection of AMF can improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
• CBCT offers higher precision for detecting anatomical variations compared to OPG, despite increased cost and radiation exposure.