Assessment of Accessory Mental Foramen by Cone-beam Computerized Tomography

Any additional foramen except mental foramen in the mandibular body that transfers mental nerve and vessels is called Accessory Mental Foramen (AMF). The objective of this study was the determination of the AMF using Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 180 CBCT images selected by simple sampling method. We checked AMF presence in tangential and crosssectional slices. Each of them had a connection with the inferior alveolar canal in the crosssectional slices and had an opening in the buccal surface of the mandibular body. The position of AMF was assessed on reconstructed 3D CBCT images or tangential images in eight regions of postero-superior, postero-inferior, postero-anterior, antero-superior, posterior, superior, inferior, and anterior regions. We used descriptive analysis to examine the presence of AMF based on sex and age on each side. Results: The prevalence rates of AMF were 3.3% and 5.6% in the right and left sides, respectively. There were 2 (1.1%) image samples with AMF on both sides. There were no significant difference between the presence of AMF and gender (right side P=0.42, left side P=0.73) and age (right side P=0.30, left side P=0.32). Conclusion: There are variations in the incidence and location of the AMF; therefore, CBCT is an effective tool for 3D preoperative assessment of AMF.