Altered sensation following mandibular implant surgery: a retrospective study

To determine the prevalence of complications involving altered sensation after implant surgery in the mandible, a retrospective questionnaire study was conducted of 266 patients treated with osseointegrated implants. Of the responding patients (80%), 37% reported altered sensation following implant surgery, with long-term changes occurring in 13% of patients. In more than 60% of symptomatic patients the onset was within 1 week of the first stage of surgery and most frequently involved the lip and chin. Resolution of transient changes usually occurred within 6 months and the majority of patients who reported alterations in sensation believed that the benefits of the implant surgery outweighed the disadvantages experienced. The prevalence of altered sensation was significantly higher in women compared with men and in those with a history of diabetes. These data indicate the need for prospective studies to further evaluate altered sensation after mandibular implant surgery so that specific risk factors can be identified and more accurate information made available to prospective patients.