Mandibular third molar and inferior alveolar canal.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of Inferior Alveolar Nerve (IAN) damage after surgical removal of lower third molars, to identify the cause and to construct a predictive model to assess the risk of IAN injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were selected from the out patient department after proper clinical and radiological evaluation of mandibular third molars. 50 mandibular third molars of 50 different patients were removed under local anaesthesia. Standardized data collection including the patient's name, age, gender, proximity of inferior alveolar nerve were recorded. RESULTS A total 6% of the operated sides demonstrated impairment of labial sensation and vast majority of these disturbances subsided completely within six weeks. CONCLUSION For IAN we found Patient's age, the development of roots, the degree of impaction and the radiographic position of the nerve canal to be significantly correlated to sensory deficit.