OBJECTIVEThis study used cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to access the distribution and position of accessory mandibular foramina in the mandibular body of Jiangxi adults, and some safety rules of operation for clinics were provided.

METHODSTwo hundred CBCT image subjects of Jiangxi adults were selected, which were divided into 4 groups by age with the same sex ratio. The number and position of accessory mandibular foramina in mandibular anterior teeth, premolars and molars region were described and the relationship between accessory mandibular foramina incidence and factors of age, gender and lateral were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 1 123 accessory mandibular foramina were found, with a mean of 5.62±2.10 per person. The accessory mandibular foramina incidence decreased from the mesial region to the distal, and the lingual was higher than the buccal. There was no significant difference in the number of accessory mandibular foramina in male and female (P=0.195). However, the number of accessory mandibular foramina was negatively correlated with age (r(s)=-0.301). Three highest frequency regions of accessory mandibular foramina were mandibular symphysis area (98.0%), lingual alveolar area of lower medial (88.0%) and lateral incisors and inferior area of lingual premolar (55.0%).

CONCLUSIONSAccessory mandibular foramina are widely presented in the body of everyone's mandible, addition attention should be paid to avoid the complications causing by the damage of canal contents in the clinics.