THE FREQUENCY OF ACCESSORY MENTAL FORAMINA IN 4 ETHNIC-GROUPS

The frequency of accessory mental foramina (AMF) was studied in four p opulation groups: 20th century Asian Indians, African Americans and Am erican Whites, and Pre-Columbian Nazca Indians. AMF were found less fr equently in the American White and Asian Indian populations than in th e other groups (American While, 1.4%; Asian Indian: 1.5%; African Amer ican: 5.7% and Nazca, 9.0%). The incidence of AMFs did not differ sign ificantly between right- and left-hand sides. In certain ethnic groups . i.e., African American, AMF may occur more often in males. Additiona l studies with larger samples are needed to show whether AMFs are more common in males. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.