Inferior Alveolar Nerve Deficits and Recovery Following Surgical Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars

Aims and Objectives

(1) To determine the incidence of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) deficits following surgical extraction of mandibular third molar.(2) To document recovery of IAN injuries.

Materials and Methods

A total of 400 lower third molars were extracted, 205 male patients and 195 females. All underwent extraction by the prescribed buccal approach. All cases were examined by one examiner preoperatively and postoperatively, at 7 days, one month, two months and six months. Two-point discrimination test (2-pd), brush stroke direction (BSD), contact detection, pin prick and thermal testing was carried out.

Results and Conclusion

One patient presented with IAN injury (0.25%). This single case of nerve injury was mesioangular, Level B, Class 2, impaction with a difficulty rating of 5. Levels A and B tests (2PD, BSD, Contact detection) were altered. In these tests, the IAN did not show any signs of recovery by six months. Level C tests (pin prick test, sharp blunt detection) showed that the nerve had recovered completely by two months.