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Aim The aim of this article is to present a case of an accessory mental foramen (AMF). Background The mental foramen is an important anatomical structure of particular importance in local anesthesia and surgical procedures in terms of achieving effective mandibular nerve blocks and avoiding injuries to the neurovascular bundles. Although rare, multiple mental foramina have been described in humans. In these cases one foramen is termed the mental foramen and the others are referred to as an AMF. Report A 62-year-old woman presented for a routine dental examination. In addition to the normal radiographic image of the mental foramen, periapical radiographs of the left mandibular premolar and molar region revealed a round-shaped radiolucency with distinct borders along with an inferior extension below the apex of the mesial root of the first molar. This image was considered to be an AMF. Summary Although no surgical operation was planned, the patient was informed about the existence and importance of the anatomical variation with regard to the need for local anesthesia, diagnosis of periapical disease, and the prevention of nerve damage during surgery in that area of the mandible. Citation Çağirankaya LB, Kansu HK. An Accessory Mental Foramen: A Case Report. J Contemp Dent Pract 2008 January; (9)1:098-104.

Torus palatinus (TP) is an exostosis of the hard palate. The biologic significance of TP is unknown. Our hypothesis was that the presence of a TP reflects the development of the maxilla. It has been proven that tooth agenesis is associated with small maxillary size. We investigated whether there is a relationship between maxillary third molar agenesis and the presence or absence of TP. The study was carried out on 253 Turkish patients. It showed a lower prevalence of third molar agenesis in female subjects with TP (P < 0.001). This study provides indirect evidence that development of the maxilla may be greater in female subjects with TP.

A suspected case of trifid mandibular condyle that was observed on a panoramic radiograph and confirmed using computed tomography (CT) is reported. No history of previous temporomandibular joint (TMJ) trauma was reported by the subject.

Congenital absence of maxillary permanent canines is an extremely rare condition, which may appear as part of a syndrome or as a nonsyndromic form. Nonsyndromic canine agenesis combined with other types of tooth agenesis has occasionally been described in the literature but isolated cases are rarely observed. This report presents an isolated case of maxillary permanent canine agenesis in a healthy 18-year-old female patient and a literature review on the prevalence, etiology, and differential diagnosis of the condition.