Mental nerve neuropathy following dental extraction
Foad Elahi1, Nicholas Manolitsis, Yatish S Ranganath
1University of Iowa, Iowa City,IA; and Southeast Rehabilitation Health Center, Des Moines, IA.
Pain Physician
|May 23, 2014
Summary
Mental nerve neuropathy (MNN), or numb chin syndrome, can cause chronic pain after dental procedures. Radiofrequency nerve ablation effectively reduced pain in two patients, offering a new treatment option.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Medicine
- Interventional Pain Management
Background:
- Mental nerve neuropathy (MNN), or numb chin syndrome, is an uncommon neurological condition mimicking mandibular pain.
- Early diagnosis and management of MNN are crucial to prevent chronicity.
- MNN can arise from various local and systemic causes, often presenting after dental procedures.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with chronic painful numbness in the mental nerve distribution post-dental extraction.
- Conservative treatments and mental foramen nerve blocks were initially unsuccessful.
- Radiofrequency nerve ablation was performed after successful nerve blocks confirmed nerve viability.
Findings:
- Radiofrequency nerve ablation resulted in a significant decrease in pain for both patients.
- Nerve blocks played a key role in identifying the pain generator and guiding treatment planning.
- This highlights the utility of nerve blocks in determining the suitability of ablative procedures.
Implications:
- Clinicians can use these findings to better identify and manage early-stage MNN.
- The study advances medical knowledge in pain medicine regarding MNN treatment.
- Radiofrequency nerve ablation presents a viable option for refractory MNN cases.
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