Examination of presence and location of the accessory mental foramen, and its implications on the mental nerve block

Objectives: It is clinically essential to know the location of accessory mental foramen in the mental nerve anesthesia. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of accessory mental foramen and examining its morphometric properties. Methods: A total of 35 adult mandibles of unknown age, gender, and ethnicity were examined. The presence of accessory mental foramen of the mandible was investigated bilaterally. In cases with the accessory mental foramen, its localization, number, and distance relative to the mental foramen were evaluated. Results: Eleven (15.71%) accessory mental foramens were detected in the 35 mandibles (70 sides) examined. Six (54.55%) of the accessory mental foramens were on the left side, and 5 (45.45%) were on the right side. Conclusion: Knowing the frequency and localization of the accessory mental foramen will make the mental nerve block more effective and facilitate surgical procedures. It should be kept in mind that the presence of accessory mental foramen should be considered in cases where mental nerve block applications are insufficient.