Neurosensory Deficits of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Following Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Extraction: Comparison of One-Stage Complete Extraction with Two-Stage Partial Coronectomy Surgical Technique

Objectives: Inferior alveolar nerve neurosensory deficit is a worrisome complication of surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. A novel approach using two-stage partial coronectomy has been proposed as an alternative surgical procedure to reduce this complication. This study compared neurosensory deficits of inferior alveolar nerve following impacted mandibular third molar extraction using one-stage complete extraction with the two-stage partial coronectomy technique.

Material and methods: Subjects with mesioangular or horizontal impacted mandibular third molar with an intimate relationship with inferior dental canal who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study. Subjects were divided into one-stage and two-stage partial coronectomy techniques. The subjects were evaluated for the presence of inferior alveolar neurosensory deficit, and the relationships of neurosensory nerve deficit with sex, age and type of impaction.

Results: Neurosensory deficit was observed in 5 subjects (7.8%), with all cases seen in the one-stage group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.03). The relationship between the incidence of neurosensory deficit and age, sex, type of impaction, surgical difficulty, operating time and root morphology was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest partial coronectomy compared to one-stage complete extraction reduces the incidence of Inferior alveolar nerve neurosensory deficit.