Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence and location of accessory foramina in the human mandible

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Oral Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to radiographically assess the prevalence and location of accessory foramina in the human mandible using helical computed tomography (CT) images and three-dimensional reconstructions.

Methods

Helical CT images from 24 males and 22 females aged 66–88 years (mean age: 73.7 ± 5.3 years) were observed. Each image was assessed in the three anatomical planes, and three-dimensional reconstructions were performed with Amira 5.6 software.

Results

All subjects (n = 46) presented at least one accessory foramina. A lingual foramen was the most frequently observed foramen and present in 96 % (n = 44) of subjects. Mandibular anterior nutrient canals were clearly observed in 72 % (n = 33) of subjects (71 %, n = 17, of males; 73 %, n = 16, of females). A retromolar foramen was present in 17 % (n = 8) of subjects (21 %, n = 5, of males; 14 %, n = 3, of females). A double mental foramen (DMF) was present in only one subject (2 %). Fifty percent (n = 23) of subjects presented one or more inferior retromental foramen (IRF). No significant correlations were observed between prevalences of accessory foramina and sex.

Conclusions

The lingual foramen can be considered a constant finding, and mandibular anterior nutrient canal foramina and IRF were present in the majority of subjects. Retromolar foramina and DMF were less common but can be associated with anesthetic failures and oral surgery complications. Three-dimensional reconstructions provided better understanding of the locations of foramina and their interrelations with the anatomy of the jaw.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Khoury J, Mihailidis S, Ghabriel M, Townsend G. Applied anatomy of the pterygomandibular space: improving the success of inferior alveolar nerve blocks. Aust Dent J. 2011;56:112–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Jacobs R, Lambrichts I, Liang X, Martens W, Mraiwa N, Adriaensens P, et al. Neurovascularization of the anterior jaw bones revisited using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2007;103:683–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Vandewalle G, Liang X, Jacobs R, Lambrichts I. Macroanatomic and radiologic characteristics of the superior genial spinal foramen and its bony canal. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2006;21:581–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Thangavelu K, Kannan R, Kumar NS, Rethish E, Sabitha S, Sayeeganesh N. Significance of localization of mandibular foramen in an inferior alveolar nerve block. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2012;3:156–60.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Cohen H, Reader A, Drum M, Nusstein J, Beck M. Anesthetic efficacy of a combination of 0.9 M mannitol plus 68.8 mg of lidocaine with 50 μg epinephrine in inferior alveolar nerve blocks: a prospective randomized, single blind study. Anesth Prog. 2013;60:145–52.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Simon F, Reader A, Drum M, Nusstein J, Beck M. A prospective, randomized single-blind study of the anesthetic efficacy of the inferior alveolar nerve block administered with a peripheral nerve stimulator. J Endod. 2010;36:429–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Potocnik I, Bajrović F. Failure of inferior alveolar nerve block in endodontics. Endod Dent Traumatol. 1999;15:247–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Sutton RN. The practical significance of mandibular accessory foramina. Aust Dent J. 1974;19:167–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Toh H, Kodama J, Yanagisako M, Ohmori T. Anatomical study of the accessory mental foramen and the distribution of its nerve. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 1992;69:85–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Katakami K, Mishima A, Shiozaki K, Shimoda S, Hamada Y, Kobayashi K. Characteristics of accessory mental foramina observed on limited cone-beam computed tomography images. J Endod. 2008;34:1441–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fortin T, Camby E, Alik M, Isidori M, Bouchet H. Panoramic images versus three-dimensional planning software for oral implant planning in atrophied posterior maxillary: a clinical radiological study. Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. 2013;15:198–204.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Naitoh M, Nakahara K, Suenaga Y, Gotoh K, Kondo S, Ariji E. Variations of bony canal in mandibular ramus using cone-beam computed tomography. Oral Radiol. 2010;26:36–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Fanibunda K, Matthews JN. The relationship between accessory foramina and tumour spread on the medial mandibular surface. J Anat. 2000;196:23–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Murlimanju BV, Prakash KG, Samiullah D, Prabhu LV, Pai MM, Vadgaonkar R, et al. Accessory neurovascular foramina on the lingual surface of mandible: incidence, topography, and clinical implications. Indian J Dent Res. 2012;23(3):433.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Przystańska A, Bruska M. Foramina on the internal aspect of the alveolar part of the mandible. Folia Morphol. 2005;64:89–91.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Boronat López A, Peñarrocha Diago M. Failure of locoregional anesthesia in dental practice. Review of the literature. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2006;11:510–3.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Leonard MS. Removing third molars: a review for the general practitioner. J Am Dent Assoc. 1992;123:77–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Przystańska A, Bruska M. Accessory mandibular foramina: histological and immunohistochemical studies of their contents. Arch Oral Biol. 2010;55:77–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Abdar-Esfahani M, Mehdizade M. Mandibular anterior nutrient canals in periapical radiography in relation to hypertension. Nephrourol Mon. 2013;6(1):e15292.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Kumar VR, Naik RM, Singh RT, Guruprasad Y. Incidence of nutrient canals in hypertensive patients: a radiographic study. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2014;5:164–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Imada TS, Fernandes LM, Centurion BS, de Oliveira-Santos C, Honório HM, Rubira-Bullen IR. Accessory mental foramina: prevalence, position and diameter assessed by cone-beam computed tomography and digital panoramic radiographs. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2014;25:94–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Pyle MA, Jasinevicius TR, Lalumandier JA, Kohrs KJ, Sawyer DR. Prevalence and implications of accessory retromolar foramina in clinical dentistry. Gen Dent. 1999;47:500–3.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kawai T, Asaumi R, Sato I, Kumazawa Y, Yosue T. Observation of the retromolar foramen and canal of the mandible: a CBCT and macroscopic study. Oral Radiol. 2012;28:10–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Patil S, Matsuda Y, Nakajima K, Araki K, Okano T. Retromolar canals as observed on cone-beam computed tomography: their incidence, course, and characteristics. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2013;115:692–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Von Arx T, Hänni A, Sendi P, Buser D, Bornstein MM. Radiographic study of the mandibular retromolar canal: an anatomic structure with clinical importance. J Endod. 2011;37:1630–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Liang X, Jacobs R, Lambrichts I, Vandewalle G. Lingual foramina on the mandibular midline revisited: a macroanatomical study. Clin Anat. 2007;20:246–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the work performed by Dr. Ortega Piga in radiographic data harvesting.

Conflict of interest

Carmen Salinas-Goodier, Ángel Manchón-Miralles, Rosa Rojo-López, Michael Coquerelle, Gilberto Sammartino, and Juan Carlos Prados-Frutos declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human rights statement and informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and later versions. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Stomatology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avenida de Atenas s/n, 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain

    Carmen Salinas-Goodier, Ángel Manchón, Rosa Rojo, Michael Coquerelle & Juan Carlos Prados-Frutos

  2. Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Federico II University, Corso Umberto I, 40, 80138, Naples, Italy

    Gilberto Sammartino

Authors
  1. Carmen Salinas-Goodier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ángel Manchón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rosa Rojo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Coquerelle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gilberto Sammartino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Juan Carlos Prados-Frutos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmen Salinas-Goodier.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Salinas-Goodier, C., Manchón, Á., Rojo, R. et al. Prevalence and location of accessory foramina in the human mandible. Oral Radiol 32, 72–78 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-015-0212-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-015-0212-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation