Open AccessAccidental injection related nerve damage following a mandibular bloc - Narrative review
Author(s) -
Liliana Ferreira
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
jspir - journal of surgery, periodontology and implant research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2184-4232
DOI - 10.35252/jspir.2019.1.001.1.07
Subject(s) - medicine , inferior alveolar nerve , accidental , mandibular nerve , narrative review , nerve block , cochrane library , dentistry , nerve injury , hematoma , anesthesia , surgery , intensive care medicine , physics , molar , acoustics , randomized controlled trial
Purpose: The aim of this article is to review the signs, causes and management of non-surgical damage to the inferior alveolar or lingual nerve following a mandibular block. Materials and Methods: The following electronic databases - Google Scholar, Science Direct, Pubmed and The Cochrane Library were searched. The publication year of each article selected range from 2005 to 2016. No language restrictions were applied. Results: The exact cause of nerve injury is uncertain, but it may be related to one or more factors including direct trauma to the nerve caused by the needle, hematoma formation or potential neurotoxicity from the local anesthetic. In an event such accident does occur, the clinician must manage this situation in a proper and prompt manner whether it is pharmacologically or surgically and according to the severity of the damage. Conclusions: Nerve injury following a dental injection is considered to be rare, however some may experience undesired side effects (temporary or permanent) after mandibular block analgesia. These injuries can affect the patients’ quality of life leading to potential social, emotional, psychological and/or functional problems. Many of these injuries can be avoided with careful patient evaluation and planning by the dentist.