[Lingual osteotomy--a little regarded technique for removal of the displaced mandibular wisdom tooth]

Between 1980 and 1982, 769 wisdom teeth of the lower jaw were removed from 410 patients. The lingual bone splitting technique was used 813 times and vestibular osteotomy 586 times. Statistics concerning intra- and postoperative complications using both methods were gathered and compared. Hypoeasthesia resulting to permanent damage was observed once in the area of the N. lingualis and three times in the area of the N. alveolaris inferior. These results were similar to those obtained by English-speaking authors and indicate the suitability of the lingual bone splitting technique as an alternative to the vestibular approach. The indication for lingual bone splitting osteotomy in our sample was above all the horizontal and vertical impacted wisdom tooth. The decision to use lingual osteotomy should follow radiographic and clinical assessment of the relation between crown and lingual corticalis. This technically and anatomically convincing approach can be unconditionally recommended to the experienced surgeon as a time-saving alternative.