title: Unexpected return of sensation following 4.5 years of paresthesia: case report.
abstract: Neural damage leads to a transient or persistent alteration, depending on the severity or type of injury sustained. During the last decade, many investigators reported on paresthesia related to dental implants. In this case report, the patient had presented repeatedly with swelling and suppuration, showing typical signs of peri-implantitis. In addition, the implant was placed in proximity to the mental foramen and possibly had traumatized the mental nerve because the patient had had an altered sensation on his left side for the past 4.5 years. After removal of the implant, a significant diminishing of the paresthesia had occurred, described by the patient as a 40% improvement. Further improvement occurred at 6 and 9 months. In this case report, the findings differ from the current literature in that the return of sensation occurred following a prolonged state of paresthesia. This report documents 2 unique findings. First, an area of persistent paresthesia significantly improved 50 months after the initial injury, upon the removal of the offending implant. Second, the placement of another implant in the same vicinity did not result in recurrent paresthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Implant Dentistry, New York University College of Dentistry, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elian
authors.forename: Miltiades
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitsias
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eskow
authors.forename: Ziad N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Jalbout
authors.forename: Sang-Choon
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Froum
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Tarnow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants