Abstract
The most significant complications from dental and oral surgical interventions are iatrogenic trigeminal nerve injuries that can result in permanent altered sensation and pain causing significant functional and psychological disability [1]. These injuries are best prevented, and management is complex and currently often inadequate [1]. Dependent upon the mechanism and duration of trigeminal nerve injury, results on relatively few patients undergoing reparative surgery, this chapter aims to provide an outline of the nonsurgical management of these injuries. The trigeminal nerve is the largest peripheral sensory nerve in the body with representation occupying over half of the sensory cortex. Altered feedback from a sensory nerve can cause permanent changes in the sensory cortex after 3 months [2] and, in addition, results in significant functional and affective problems. Since the face and mouth are rather “important” parts of a human being, challenges and changes to the orofacial area are likely to have a high psychological impact and altered self-perception [3].
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Trigeminal Nerve Injuries |
| Editors | Michael Miloro |
| Place of Publication | Heidelberg |
| Publisher | Springer Berlin Heidelberg |
| Pages | 213-227 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Volume | N/A |
| Edition | N/A |
| ISBN (Print) | 9783642355387 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |