Surgical Correction of Trigeminal Nerve Injury

Objectives: Trigeminal nerve injury is a documented complication of many dental treatments, however it is most common after wisdom teeth extractions and dental implants insertion. The lingual and mandibular nerves are most commonly involved, resulting in numbness of the tongue or the lip on the injured side. In cases where the nerve is severed, early surgical intervention aiming at restoring continuity can reverse the symptoms and return the lost sensation.

Method: Direct nerve anastomosis (Neurrorhaphy) of the injured nerve was performed for patients suffering anesthesia following dental treatment.

Result: All patients operated within four months of the injury showed return of sensation, albeit in some patients the sensation returned closer to normal than in others.

Conclusions: Patients suffering from anesthesia of the trigeminal nerve following dental treatment should be referred for surgery as soon as possible.