title: Inferior alveolar nerve injury related to surgery for an erupted third molar.
abstract: Removal of third molars is one of the most common operations performed in oral surgery. A well recognized serious complication of mandibular third molar extraction is injury to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). We describe a case of an unusual nerve passage discovered after the extraction of a completely erupted third molar. The likelihood of direct damage to the IAN can be predicted with more specific information obtained by the use of a preoperative computerized tomography scan when conventional radiography does not clearly show the nerve canal.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa di Odontostomatologia, Azienda Ospedaliero, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savi
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pizzi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vescovi
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020209:Cranial Nerve Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries