seven years audit of nerve injuries related to third molar extraction in hospital setting

ABSTRACT

To investigate incidence of nerve injuries after surgical removal of lower third molars in hospital setting. To assess the usage of different anesthetic modality and intravenous sedation for oral surgery. Total 1353 lower 3rd molars were removed in 687 patients during February 2000 to July 2007. Records of these patients were evaluated for neurological disturbance. Out of 687 patients one had permanent anesthesia of long buccal nerve [0.14%], five had temporary and one permanent anesthesia of inferior dental nerve [0.87%] and three had temporary and one permanent anesthesia of lingual nerve [0.58%]. There was no injury to mylohyoid nerve in our study sample. In our observation frequency of lingual nerve damage was consistent with reported literature. Injury of inferior dental nerve in our patients was found to be less than one percent. Local anesthesia and intravenous sedation is underused in oral surgery