Delayed Paresthesia of Inferior Alveolar Nerve After Extraction of Mandibular Third Molar: Case Report and Possible Etiology

Abstract

Some hard and soft tissue surgical procedures in the mandible can potentially cause inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury. They include extraction of the mandibular third molars 1 Kipp D.P. Goldstein B.H. Weiss W.W. Dysesthesia after mandibular third molar surgery: A retrospective study and analysis of 1377 surgical procedures. J Am Dent Assoc. 1980; 100: 185 PubMed Scopus (230) Google Scholar , 2 Wofford D.T. Prospective study of dysesthesia following odontectomy of impacted mandibular third molars. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1987; 45: 15 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (113) Google Scholar , 3 Genu P.R. Vasconcelos B.C. Influence of the tooth section technique in alveolar nerve damage after surgery of impacted lower third molars. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2008; 37: 923 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (29) Google Scholar , 4 Blondeau F. Daniel N.G. Extraction of impacted mandibular third molars: Postoperative complications and their risk factors. 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Int J Oral Surg. 1977; 6: 38 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (21) Google Scholar In Regard to Delayed Paresthesia of Inferior Alveolar Nerve After Extraction of Mandibular Third MolarJournal of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryVol. 68Issue 1PreviewIn their report,1 the authors state that the patient had been drinking and “dancing like crazy” 8 days after the mandibular third molar removal. Should “drinking” also be inside the quotation marks? How much and what type of alcohol was consumed? All our third molar extraction patients are instructed not to consume alcohol, including mouthwash, not to perform exertional activity for 2 weeks, and not to fly for 3 weeks after tooth removal. Rather than being concerned about microfractures or internal bleeding with no external bleeding from the dancing, should not the known neurolytic properties of ethanol as a possible etiology have been addressed? Full-Text PDF