title: Low risk of neurosensory dysfunction after mandibular third molar surgery in patients less than 30 years of age. A prospective study following removal of 1220 mandibular third molars.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims were to estimate the prevalence of neurosensory dysfunction (NSD) and identify risk factors for NSD after mandibular third molar (M3) removal.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective cohort study 864 patients had their M3 removed. Age, gender, surgeon's experience, and radiographic findings were recorded and the outcome variables were NSD and data analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 884 patients, 1220 M3 were removed. Fourteen patients reported NSD postoperatively; 10 inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury, 3 lingual nerve (LN) and 1 had injury to both. After 5 years the number of patients with NSD of the IAN had decreased to 5, but no change in the LN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age and cortical line interruption were significantly associated with the risk of developing sensory dysfunction. All patients younger than 30, and 3 of 8 patients older than 30, had full recovery of the IAN injury. NSD of the LN persisted in all patients.
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Gry Karina
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Kjølle
authors.forename: Tore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bjørnland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology