Unilateral agenesis of the mental foramen

Abstract

The inferior alveolar nerve canal opening in the anterior labial aspect called mental foramen (MF) is a vital anatomic landmark of the mandible, through which the mental nerve and blood vessels emerge. The importance of MF is particularly associated with dental implant placement and various surgical procedures within this region. It is elementary to use caution in and around the MF region during surgical procedures and implant placement to avoid nerves and vessel injury. Anatomic variations of the MF are often found, like the prevalence of multiple foramina and unusual locations in the mandible. On rare occasions, the absence of MF is often detected. The modern imaging-resource cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) permits correct three-dimensional assessment of MF and identification of its variations. This article aims to report the unilateral absence of MF detected in CBCT images of a 70 years-old male patient.