Variation in the Incidence and Position of Accessory Mandibular Foramen in East Indian Population in Relation to Age

The passage of blood vessels and nerves make the accessory mandibular foramen (AMF) clinically important for dental surgeons, anaesthesists, oncologists and radiotherapists. The aim of the present study is to determine the incidence and topography of AMF in young and adult mandibles and highlight its clinical significance. Seventy dried human mandibles irrespective of gender were collected from the Department of Anatomy, S. C. B. Medical College and observed for the presence of accessory mandibular foramen on the medial surface of ramus. Only those foramina with diameter greater than1mm were taken into account. AMFs were found in 58.57 % of mandibles. Out of which 23.62 % were bilateral, 35.1 %unilateral i. e, 16.4 % left and 18.7 % right. In 21.4 % of cases AMFs were found above& behind the mandibular foramen and in 14.2 % above& infront. It was observed that in younger mandibles AMFs were found bilaterally and in multiples. Thus it was observed that the incidence of AMFs were more in mandibles of younger age group where third molar has not yet erupted. It was also observed that the commonest position was posterosuperior. A proper understanding of the presence or absence of these foramina can provide valuable information regarding the branching pattern of inferior alveolar nerve. The knowledge of additional foramina is important for radiotherapists while planning radiation therapy as spread of tumours following radiotherapy can occur through these foramina. Thus the anatomical details of these foramina are important to various fields of dentistry and oncology for planning their treatment at an appropriate site.