What is the function of inferior alveolar nerve?

Sensory Function Through its dental branch, the inferior alveolar nerve provides sensation to your lower three molars and two premolars per side. Through its mental branch, it provides sensation to your chin and your bottom lip.

What does the inferior alveolar nerve innervate?

For example, the maxillary nerve will branch into the superior alveolar nerves. Another example is the mandibular nerve branching into the inferior alveolar nerve. The inferior alveolar nerve will be responsible for sensory innervation to the cheek, lips, chin, teeth, and gingivae.

What happens if inferior alveolar nerve is damaged?

There is a range of common inferior alveolar nerve damage symptoms, regardless of how the IAN is damaged. A damaged IAN will reveal itself through pain or abnormal sensations in the chin, lower teeth, lower jaw, and lower lips. Nerve damage may result in speech difficulties and/or affect chewing.

How long does it take for lingual nerve damage to heal?

Injury to the lingual nerve may also affect taste perception on the affected side of the tongue. The vast majority (approximately 90%) of these injuries are temporary in nature and resolve within eight weeks. However, if the injury persists beyond six months it is deemed to be permanent.

Can nerve damage in mouth heal?

The nerves (alveolar and lingual) supplying sensation to the tongue, lower lip and chin, may be injured as a result of surgical treatments to the mouth and face, including surgery to remove lower wisdom teeth. The vast majority (90%) of these injuries are temporary and get better within eight weeks.

How common is inferior alveolar nerve damage?

The incidence of injury to the inferior alveolar nerve after lower third molar extraction was about 0.35 – 8.4%. The injury of the inferior alveolar nerve can be predicted by various radiological signs.

How do you fix nerve damage?

Sometimes a section of a nerve is cut completely or damaged beyond repair. Your surgeon can remove the damaged section and reconnect healthy nerve ends (nerve repair) or implant a piece of nerve from another part of your body (nerve graft). These procedures can help your nerves to regrow.

How long does nerve damage take to heal?

If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of ‘rest’ following your injury. Some people notice continued improvement over many months.

What kind of nerve is the inferior alveolar nerve?

The inferior alveolar nerve and the lingual nerve are the sensory nerves most commonly injured during surgical treatment by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Injury to these nerves is not always avoidable, despite a good knowledge of the anatomy and meticulous surgical technique. The lingual nerve has a more variable and less predictable course.

Is the inferior dental nerve the same as the trigeminal nerve?

The inferior alveolar nerve supplies feeling to your lower teeth. It’s a branch of the mandibular nerve, which itself branches off from the trigeminal nerve. It’s sometimes called the inferior dental nerve. All of the nerves in your body exist as symmetrical pairs, one on the left side and one on the right.

Can a nerve block in the inferior alveolar nerve cause numbness?

An inferior alveolar nerve block is one of the most commonly performed dental procedures. The result is numbness in the lower teeth, chin, and lower lip. In some cases, the tongue will lose sensation as well because the lingual nerve , which innervates the tongue, sits near the inferior alveolar.

How does IANT work on the inferior alveolar nerve?

IANT involves exposing the lateral border of the mandible from the mental foramen to the ascending ramus. The inferior alveolar nerve runs lingual and inferior to the molar roots and moves buccally at the premolar area. When placed, microimplants remain confined within the alveolar bone space and do not cause damage to the inferior alveolar nerve.