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. 2023 Dec 13;12(24):7661.
doi: 10.3390/jcm12247661.

Neurosensory Deficits of the Mandibular Nerve Following Extraction of Impacted Lower Third Molars-A Retrospective Study

Marcus Rieder  1 , Bernhard Remschmidt  1 , Vera Schrempf  2 , Matthäus Schwaiger  2 , Norbert Jakse  2 , Barbara Kirnbauer  2
Affiliations

Neurosensory Deficits of the Mandibular Nerve Following Extraction of Impacted Lower Third Molars-A Retrospective Study

Marcus Rieder et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background: Neurosensory deficits are one of the major complications after impacted lower third molar extraction leading to an impaired patient's quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of neurosensory deficits after lower third molar extraction and compare it radiologically to the corresponding position of the inferior alveolar nerve.

Methods: In a retrospective study, all patients who underwent impacted lower third molar extraction between January and December 2019 were compiled. Therefore, clinical data as well as preoperative radiological imaging were assessed.

Results: In total, 418 patients who underwent lower third molar extractions (n = 555) were included in this study. Of these, 33 (5.9%) had short-term (i.e., within the initial 7 postoperative days) and 12 (1.3%) long-term (i.e., persisting after 12 months) neurosensory deficits documented. The inferior alveolar nerve position in relation to the tooth roots showed apical position in 27%, buccal position in 30.8%, lingual position in 35.4%, and interradicular position in 6.9%.

Conclusions: A statistically significant increased incidence of neurosensory deficits occurs when the inferior alveolar nerve is directly positioned lingually to the tooth roots (p = 0.01).

Keywords: inferior alveolar nerve; lingual nerve; mandibular nerve; neurosensory deficit; neurosensory disturbance; oral surgery; third molar extraction; wisdom tooth removal.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Quality of nerve disorder.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Contact relation of the inferior alveolar nerve canal with the wisdom tooth roots.
Figure 3
Figure 3
CBCT images illustrate the anatomical relationship between the mandibular canal and the roots of a lower third molar. (A) Class II/buccal: No contact; (B) Class IV/interradicular: Contact with a complete white line; (C) Class III/lingual: Contact with a defective white line; (D) Class I/apical: Penetration of the mandibular canal.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relationship between the inferior alveolar nerve position and the lower third molar roots, and the occurrence of neurosensory deficits.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Contact relation and occurrence of neurosensory disorders (%).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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