Relationship between age-related changes in mandibular third molar roots and the possibility of mental nerve paresthesia after tooth extraction

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery 2024-07, Vol.53 (7), p.612-618
• Main Authors: Sakakura, H., Hayashi, Y., Sugimoto, K., Matsubara, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cone-beam computed tomography; Mental nerve; Paresthesia; Third molar; Tooth extraction
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2023.12.008

Mental nerve paresthesia is a serious postoperative complication of mandibular third molar extraction. It appears that no study has examined the relationship between the surface morphology of the mandibular third molar roots and the possibility of mental nerve paresthesia following tooth extraction. Therefore, the root morphology of the mandibular third molars was examined according to age using dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and the possibility of mental nerve paresthesia following tooth extraction was evaluated. The study included 1216 patients who had undergone mandibular third molar extractions. The root morphology of 1534 teeth in 791 patients who had CBCT performed before surgery was studied. Factors evaluated were age, complete or incomplete formation of the mandibular third molar roots, periodontal ligament atrophy of the mandibular third molar roots, hypercementosis, and mandibular canal deformation. Mandibular third molar root formation was completed between the ages of 19 and 30 years. Complete formation of the mandibular third molar roots (P = 0.002) and deformation of the mandibular canal (P