Lingual nerve paresthesia following third molar surgery: a retrospective clinical study

Lingual nerve anesthesia, paresthesia, and dysesthesia are possible side effects of third molar extraction. These unwanted complications are frequently disturbing to both the patient and practitioner. The incidence of lingual nerve damage following third molar surgery is more frequent than once thought. Six hundred questionnaires were sent to randomly selected Fellows of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in 50 states to determine the parameters surrounding this phenomenon. Of the 452 respondents, 76.05% reported having had patients with lingual anesthesia, dysesthesia, or paresthesia. Of all the reported cases, 18.64% of the cases failed to resolve. Of the reported cases, only three underwent surgical intervention. Because many cases of lingual nerve dysfunction do not resolve, it is important to inform patients that microsurgical nerve repair techniques are available as a modality of treatment following diagnosis. It has also been recommended that if the paresthesia does not resolve within 10 to 12 weeks, then management options including microsurgical nerve reconstruction within a short period of time should be discussed as a plan with the patient.