nerve injury

A Breakthrough in Nerve Repair: Implications for Wisdom Teeth Removal

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Understanding the Risks of Wisdom Teeth Removal Wisdom teeth removal can sometimes lead to complications, including nerve injuries. The nerves that control sensation and movement in the face pass near the wisdom teeth, and damage to these nerves can result in numbness, tingling, or pain. Traditional Approaches and Their Limitations While traditional methods for repairing nerve injuries have improved over time, they can still be invasive and may not always achieve complete nerve function. Autografts, where a nerve from another part of the body is used to replace the damaged nerve, are often the standard of care but can have limitations. A Promising New Approach Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine have made significant progress in developing a novel technique for nerve repair using stem cells derived from gum tissue. This groundbreaking approach offers potential benefits … Read more

Coronectomy Five Year Follow Up

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An interesting article titled “Coronectomy: A Surgical Option for Impacted Third Molars in Close Proximity to the Inferior Alveolar Nerve—A 5-Year Follow-Up Study,” appears in the 2019 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery written by Monaco et al. The article discusses a study that explores complications up to five years after coronectomy. Coronectomy is often suggested to treat wisdom teeth when there is a high risk of nerve damage see for example Do People Know about Coronectomy For Management of Wisdom Teeth?. In the article the authors build upon a prior study they published that evaluated early or late complications and root migration for up to three years after coronectomy by extending the time period to up to five years after coronectomy. The study evaluated 94 patients who presented for lower wisdom teeth removal at the University … Read more

What is the Polo Mint Wisdom Tooth and How to Treat It

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An interesting article titled “Identifying the Polo® mint mandibular third molar: a case series” written by Chopra et al. appears in the 2019 edition of Oral Surgery (vol. 12, pp. 89-95). The article discusses lower wisdom teeth that have a perforation in the root where the inferior dental nerve passes through and resemble the classic perforation within the Polo Mint confectionary (the Polo mint is a breath mint with a hole in the middle). These type of wisdom teeth are described as being uncommon, occurring every 1 in 800 cases or less; however they present a high degree of inferior dental nerve injury if they are extracted. The authors state that surgeons may only seen one or two cases in their entire career. In the article the authors describe a study from 2010 to 2017 where they identified 22 cases … Read more

The Predictive Value of using Panoramic X-Rays for Wisdom Teeth Surgery Complications

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An interesting article titled “Predictive Value of Panoramic Radiography for Injury of Inferior Alveolar Nerve After Mandibular Third Molar Surgery,” appears in the 2017 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (vol. 75, pp. 663-679) written by Su et al. The article sought to explore if panoramic x-rays taken before wisdom teeth removal can predict possible injury of the inferior alveolar nerve. In the article the authors discuss how inferior alveolar nerve injury is the third most common complication following wisdom teeth removal. When inferior alveolar nerve injury occurs numbness of the lip or chin can occur along with difficulty speaking and chewing food. Current studies have shown inferior alveolar nerve injury occurs about 8% of the time after wisdom teeth removal with less than 1% expected to be permanent. Current practice has shown that panoramic x-rays can … Read more

Preventing Lingual Nerve Damage After Wisdom Teeth Extraction

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An interesting article titled “Prevention of Lingual Nerve Injury in Third Molar Surgery: Literature Review” written by Pippi et al. appears in the 2017 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (vol. 75, pp. 890-900). The article discusses attempting to identify any factors that could influence if a patient suffers lingual nerve damage after wisdom teeth removal. In the study the authors reviewed previous literature published up until February 2016 that pertained to lingual nerve injuries after wisdom teeth surgery. From the literature review the authors analyzed three different surgical techniques used for wisdom teeth removal: 1) buccal approach, 2) lingual split technique, and 3) buccal approach plus lingual flap retraction in order to determine if their were any differences on lingual nerve injuries. The authors also evaluated the association between nerve damage and tooth sectioning or ostectomy. … Read more