title: Lingual nerve injury after third molar removal: Unilateral atrophy of fungiform papillae.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain and sensory changes due to lingual nerve injury are one of the most common alterations that follow surgical removal of third molar. They are usually transient but other less common complications, such as the atrophy of fungiform papillae, have an uncertain prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 34-year-old woman who presented a unilateral lingual atrophy of fungiform papillae after third molar extraction accompanied by severe dysesthesia that altered her daily life significantly during the following months and how this complication evolved over time. We conducted a literature review on the different factors that can lead to a lingual nerve injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical evolution of temporary and permanent somatosensitve injuries is an important fact to take into consideration during the postoperative management because it will indicate the lesion prognosis. Key words:Lingual nerve, third molar removal, somatosensitive alteration, papillae atrophy, permanent injury, temporary injury.
authors.affiliation: MD. Resident, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Vall d'Hebrón Hospital. Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Míriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martos-Fernández
authors.affiliation: MD. Assistant Surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Vall d'Hebrón Hospital, Barcelona, Spain. Researcher of VHIR group.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de-Pablo-Garcia-Cuenca
authors.affiliation: MD, DDS, PhD. Head of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Vall d'Hebrón Hospital. Barcelona, Spain. Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon at La Clinica Pilar, Barcelona, Spain. Researcher of the VHIR group.
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bescós-Atín