Bilateral absence of mental foramen – a rare variation

Mental foramen, an important landmark of the human mandible is the determinant of the mental triangle. It is an oval or circular opening on the anterior surface of the mandible. The mental bundle exits through the mental foramen and supplies the soft tissues of the chin, lower lip, and gingivae. Recent advancements in orthognathic surgery have increased surgical procedures in the mental region. The exact location of the mental foramen is determinant of effective nerve block and prevention of post surgical neurovascular complications. Its modal position varies according to age and ethnicity, from sub-canine to sub-molar. Variations like multiple or absent foramina hold strategic importance in clinical dentistry and are best revealed by computerized tomography scans. This case reports an extremely rare and previously undescribed anatomic variation of bilateral absence of mental foramen along with literature review of relevance to peridontologists and maxillofacial surgeons.