Bifid mandibular nerve as a possible cause of inadequate anesthesia in the mandible

Abstract

Failure to achieve complete mandibular anesthesia is a problem that often occurs. The explanations include faulty anesthetic solutions, faulty technique, and anatomic or physiologic variations. Bifurcation of the mandibular nerve, rarely mentioned in the literature, may be a cause of inadequate anesthesia in a small percentage of cases.