Multiple Accessory Mental Foramen: A Rare Anatomical Finding

Abstract

1. Abstract <span lang=TR style=font-size:10.0pt;font-family: times= new= roman,serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold=> The mental foramen is one of the most important anatomical landmark of mandible. It is also described as the front opening of the mandibular canal. It contains a branch of inferior alveolar nerve which is named mental nerve. In general, it is found one mental foramen on each side of mandible. On rare occasions, more than one mental foramen could be found on each side of mandible; the term “accessory mental foramen” is used. Accurate identification of these anatomical structures will provide the practitioners to avoid nerve damages, bleedings and complications in performing surgery procedures. Hence, comprehensive and detailed preoperative radiologic evaluation should be applied by using appropriate radiologic technique.This article presents a rare case of multiple accessory mental foramenwhich was detected incidentally by CBCT in a 52-year-old male patient. Keywords: Accessory Mental Foramen; Anatomical Variation; Cone Beam Computed Tomography