An anatomic study of the lingual nerve in the third molar region

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the location of the lingual nerve in the lower third molar region.

Patients and methods: In this study, 669 nerves from 430 fresh cadavers were examined. Measurements on each cadaver were made using a micrometer caliper to determine the horizontal and vertical position of the lingual nerve in the lower third molar region.

Results: In 94 cases (14.05%), the nerve was above the lingual crest, and in 1 case (0.15%), the nerve was in the retromolar pad region. In the remaining 574 cases (85.80%), the mean horizontal and vertical distances of the nerve to the lingual plate and the lingual crest 2.06 +/- 1.10 mm (range, 0.00 to 3.20 mm) and 3.01 +/- 0.42 mm (range, 1.70 to 4.00 mm), respectively. In 149 cases (22.27%), the nerve was in direct contact with the lingual plate of the alveolar process.

Conclusions: This study confirms the relatively unsafe position of the lingual nerve in relation to some oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures.