Assessment of Accessory Mental Foramen by Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Introduction: Any foramen in the buccal surface of mandibular body that transfers mental nerve and vessels except mental foramen, is called Accessory Mental Foramen (AMF). The objective of this study was the determination of the AMF using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods:  this descriptive study was done on 180 CBCT projections which were selected by convenience sampling method. The AMF was tested in tangential and cross-sectional planes which had relation with inferior alveolar canal in the cross-sectional plane and opened on the buccal surface of mandible r. The location of AMF was assessed in eight regions (posterior-superior, posterior, posterior-inferior, superior, inferior, posterior-anterior, anterior and superior-anterior) by using reconstructed 3D CBCT or tangential images, . Descriptive analysis was used to compare the presence of AMF based on sex and age on each side. Results: The incidence rate of AMF was 3.3 % and 5.6 % in the right and left sides, respectively. There were two image samples (1.1%) with AMF in both sides. There was no significant difference between the presence of AMF and gender (right side P-value =0.42; left side P-value =0.73) and age (right side P-value =0.30; left side P-value =0.32). Conclusion: there were variations in the incidence and location of the AMF; therefore, CBCT can be an effective tool for 3 pre-surgical assessment of AMF.