Purpose: To calculate the frequency of lingual nerve (LN) damage caused by lower third molar extraction and describe the evolution of LN sensitivity as well as the prognosis of LN damage based on preoperative data.
Patients and methods: A retrospective study of 4,995 lower third molar extractions performed in 3,513 outpatients of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (University of Barcelona, Spain) between January 1998 and September 2001.
Results: Twenty-four extractions (0.5%) resulted in LN impairment. All involved ostectomy, with tooth sectioning in 20 cases. Cox regression analysis showed no risk factors for the persistence of LN injury during lower third molar extraction. The sensitivity recovery rate was greater in the first 3 months and then gradually decreased.
Conclusion: LN impairment usually recovers, the recovery rate being faster in the first months. LN damage is generally associated with ostectomy and tooth sectioning.