title: Evaluation of sensitivity of teeth after mandibular fractures.
abstract: The sensitivity of teeth anterior to a fracture between the mental and mandibular foramina has been tested and followed up until reinnervation or 3 years has passed. This study assessed the reinnervation period, the number of denervated teeth, and their clinical importance. Fifty patients and 459 teeth were examined. Two hundred and seventy-three teeth were affected and had potentially impaired innervation. Tests after injury showed non-responsive teeth in 81% of affected teeth. Six weeks after injury, 19% of teeth were reinnervated; by 1 year after injury, 92% of initially non-responsive teeth were reinnervated. Most teeth (34%) were reinnervated from 6 weeks to 3 months. All 23/186 initially non-responsive, unaffected, contralateral corresponding teeth were reinnervated within 6 weeks. A year after injury, 95% of incisors, 91% of canines, 94% of premolars, and 82% of molars were reinnervated. Three years after injury, 8% of teeth remain denervated. During the second and third years, no reinnervation occurred, but clinical signs of pulp devitalisation of denervated teeth occurred in 18% or 1% of the initially non-responsive affected teeth. The results revealed the stability of pulp 1 year after injury. Denervated teeth should not be treated if no clinical or radiological signs of devitalisation exist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Dubrava, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brajdić
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Virag
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Uglešić
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aljinović-Ratković
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zajc
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Macan
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid / Q000294:innervation; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003481:Cuspid / Q000294:innervation; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000294:innervation; D003791:Dental Pulp Test; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000294:innervation; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D008963:Molar / Q000294:innervation; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014070:Tooth / Q000294:innervation*; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000209:etiology; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology