Surgical access to an impacted lower third molar by sagittal splitting of the mandible: a case report

It is well documented that surgical removal of an impacted mandibular third molar may damage the inferior alveolar nerve. Assessing the likelihood of injury depends to a great extent on preoperative radiographic examination, to determine the proximity of the tooth to the nerve. If the nerve and tooth are closely related the roots should be divided and removed separately. In the case reported here, elective sagittal splitting of the mandible was used to gain access to an impacted lower third molar, which was intimately involved with the inferior alveolar nerve.