Trigeminal nerve injuries after mandibular implant placement--practical knowledge for clinicians

Endosseous mandibular implant placement can result in injuries to the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve even with the most careful preoperative planning and intraoperative technique. In the past, many patients have been discouraged from seeking repair for such injuries because of the unreliability of the techniques for correcting the injury. It is now possible to perform microneurosurgical repair of such injuries. If the repair is done in a timely fashion, sensation can be improved or restored and painful nerve dysesthesia can be relieved. This article reviews the different types of nerve injuries, their symptoms and diagnosis, and provides information for clinicians to manage their implant patients with neurosensory disturbance.