The mandibular foramen is a landmark for procedures like inferior alveolar nerve block, mandibular implant treatment, and mandibular osteotomies. The present study was aimed to identify the precise location of the mandibular foramen and the incidence of accessory mandibular foramen in dry adult mandibles of South Indian population. The distance of mandibular foramen from the anterior border of the ramus, posterior border of the ramus, mandibular notch, base of the mandible, third molar, and apex of retromolar trigone was measured with a vernier caliper in 204 mandibles. The mean distance of mandibular foramen from the anterior border of ramus of mandible was 17.11±2.74 mm on the right side and 17.41±3.05 mm on the left side, from posterior border was 10.47±2.11 mm on the right side and 9.68±2.03 mm on the left side, from mandibular notch was 21.74±2.74 mm on the right side and 21.92±3.33 mm on the left side, from the base of the ramus was 22.33±3.32 mm on the right side and 25.35±4.5 mm on the left side, from the third molar tooth was 22.84±3.94 mm on the right side and 23.23±4.21 mm on the left side, from the apex of retromolar trigone was 12.27±12.13 mm on the right side and 12.13±2.35 mm on the left side. Accessory mandibular foramen was present in 32.36% of mandibles. Knowledge of location mandibular foramen is useful to the maxillofacial surgeons, oncologists and radiologists.

Background: Effective pain control in dentistry may be achieved by local anaesthetic techniques; so thorough knowledge of the possible anatomical and morphometric variations of the infra orbital foramen and accessory foramen is important for safe and successful regional anesthesia and for avoiding nerve injuries during surgery. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 105 adult dry skulls. The distance from infraorbital foramen to infra orbital margin, lateral margin of the pyriform aperture, anterior nasal spine, zygomatic maxillary suture, supra orbital foramen/ notch, and the maxillary tooth were measured. Measurements were done bilaterally by using digital Vernier calliper. The size, shape, direction of the Infra Orbital Foramen (IOF) on both sides & the prevalence of accessory IOF were observed and analysed in the skulls. Observations thus made were compiled and tabulated followed by comparison using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Mean distance of infraorbital foramen from infraorbital margin was 7.0± 1.64 mm, the mean distance between the infraorbital foramen and the piriform aperture was 17.5 ±2.84mm. Mean distance of infra orbital foramen from Anterior Nasal Spine and Zygomatic maxillary suture was 33.07± 3.43mm and 16.48± 2.80 mm respectively. Mean distance from supraorbital foramen/notch was 42.32 ± 2.51mm. The most common occurrence was semilunar shape (37%) followed by oval shape (29%),round shape (22%)and slit shape(12%).The mean vertical diameter of infra orbital foramen was 3.78 ± 1.03mm and transverse diameter was 3.87±1.52mm.The most common position of infra orbital foramen on right side was in line of long axis in between 1 st and 2 nd upper premolar(26%) and on left side at 2 nd upper premolar (32%).The prevalence of accessory infraorbital foramen was 24.28%, while bilateral occurrence was only 9.5% and 14.76 % it was unilateral. Conclusion: The findings of the present study can be helpful for clinicians when utilizing the infraorbital nerve block for various procedures in localizing the infraorbital foramen.

Background: Nutrient foramen is a natural opening in the shaft of a bone, allowing for passage of blood vessels into the medullary cavity. The knowledge of nutrient foramen is important in surgical procedures like bone grafting and more recently in microsurgical vascularised bone transplantation.

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Oroantral communication is an unnatural communication of the maxillary sinus with the oral cavity, often resulting from dental extractions, infection, trauma, or excision of cysts or tumors. Pathological epithelialization of oroantral communication leads to oroantral fistula. Various techniques have been proposed for surgical closure. Uneventful healing of the defect can be achieved in the absence of antral infection. Hence, medical management of maxillary sinusitis should precede surgical closure of the defect. Here, we report a case of an oroantral fistula of the left maxillary third molar, caused by a secondary infection of the extraction site, managed primarily by antibiotics, topical steroids, and irrigating agents followed by surgical closure. It is essential to carefully inspect the post-extraction socket of maxillary teeth due to its high risk of development of oroantral communication. Also, the management of oroantral communications needs early detection to prevent infection and to prevent transforming into an oroantral fistula. In case of an infected oroantral communication or fistula, priority rests on treating the infection first and followed by surgical repair.