Bilateral wide mental foramina an incidental finding in an asymptomatic patient: A case report & mini literature review

Abstract

The mandibular canal and the mental foramina are constant structures that remain largely bilaterally symmetrical except for variations in shape and size within certain limits. Structural alterations such as enlargement of mental foramen and the mandibular canal are rare and usually recorded as incidental finding on plain radiographs. This enlargement may be associated with multiple factors. We present a unique case of bilateral wide mental foramina with enlarged mandibular canal in a 56-year-old asymptomatic male. Keywords: Mental foramen; Anatomical variation; Mandibular canal; Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT); Nerve enlargement.

Keywords

• Mental foramen
• Anatomical variation
• Mandibular canal
• Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)
• Nerve enlargement