Fixture stability and nerve function after transposition and lateralization of the inferior alveolar nerve and fixture installation

Twenty-four posterior mandibular segments in 18 patients were operated on placing implants after mobilisation of the neurovascular bundle. Two different surgical techniques, transposition and lateralization was used. The overall survival rate of fixtures was 92.1%. Performing lateralization resulted in 100% success, while transposition resulted in 80% stable fixtures in the involved segments. The mean time to full restoration of nerve function was 3.8 weeks after lateralization and 5.7 weeks after tranposing the nerve. Three patients exhibited persisting slight hyposthesia, but all, subjectively negligible disturbances in nerve function.