Evaluation of Accessory Infraorbital Foramen with Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Abstract

Objective: to assess the incidence, number and position of accessory infraorbital foramina (AIOF) according to cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).Material and methods. CBCT data from 156 patients who received dental care at a private medical center in Minsk (The Republic of Belarus) in 2018–2023 were analyzed.Results. In 29 (18.6%) patients, 38 AIOF were found. Unilateral doubling of the infraorbital foramen was more common than bilateral (21 patients compared to 8). In 1 case, the presence of two AIOF simultaneously on one side was noted. They were located medial and superior relative to the main infraorbital foramen at a distance 3.73–14.5 mm from it. In 2 of 13 patients with simultaneously visualized upper and lower jaws, an accessory mental foramen was found on the AIOF side. AIOF were more often identified on the left side (p<0.05); no gender differences in their occurrence were detected.Conclusion. The obtained results demonstrate a high frequency of infraorbital foramen doubling. To increase the effectiveness of surgical manipulations in the middle third of the face and prevent iatrogenic neurological complications, it is recommended to conduct a preoperative CBCT to clarify the localization of the main and accessory infraorbital foramina.

Keywords

• accessory infraorbital foramen
• aiof
• maxilla
• cone beam computed tomography
• cbct