Prospective study of dysesthesia following odontectomy of impacted mandibular third molars

Dysesthesia following odontectomy of impacted mandibular third molars is observed in some patients. This prospective study reports the clinical incidence of this untoward sequela to occur in 3.3% of patients. An analysis of possible etiologic factors reveals that development of dysesthesia of the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves is more likely to occur with: complete bony impacted mandibular third molars; mesioangular impacted third molars; impacted third molars with the crown at the cemento-enamel junction of the second molar; and when burs are used to remove bone and when the roots approximate the inferior alveolar canal.