Lingual nerve damage following lower third molar surgery.

A prospective study was carried out on the effects of surgical, operator, and anatomical variables on the incidence and duration of lingual dysaesthesia after the surgical removal of impacted lower third molars under general anaesthesia. The predictive value of the area of sensory loss in relation to recovery was also studied. 120 instances of dysaesthesia occurred following 1040 operations in 602 patients, an overall incidence of 11.5%. The effects of 22 possible causative factors, analysed initially by the X2 test, are recorded. Since factors may not be independent, the results were then subjected to logit analysis, revealing highly significant effects from depth of impaction, removal of overhanging distal bone, lingual flap elevation, and operating time. Neither individual operators nor operator seniority had significant effects on the incidence. 6 cases of dysaesthesia failed to recover within 6 months. Where the area of sensory loss was incomplete, recovery occurred within 6 months in all cases.