Stafne bone defect (SBD) is a rare developmental bone defect characterized by an asymptomatic focal concavity of the cortical bone, typically on the lingual aspect of the mandibular body, which generally contains salivary gland tissue. It can be detected during routine dental examinations and typically appears as an ovoid, well-defined, well-corticated, radiolucent depression in the posterior mandibular region below the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) (in: Neville et al, Oral and maxillofacial pathology, Elsevier, Inc, St. Louis, MO, 2016).

An 80-year-old male presented to our clinic for a routine dental examination. Panoramic radiography and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) displayed two well-defined, well-corticated, ovoid radiolucencies inferior to the IAN canal on the left mandibular molar region. The working diagnosis was SBD, and the patient was informed of the findings. Irregular margins on the superior aspect of the anterior defect were noted on CBCT imaging; therefore, follow-up with panoramic images at 6 months, 1 and 5 years was recommended.