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Inferior Alveolar Nerve (inferior + alveolar_nerve)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	83%

Selected Abstracts

Taste deficits related to dental deafferentation: an electrogustometric study in humans

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2006
Yves Boucher
Dental treatments, the prevalence of which increases with age, can cause orofacial somatosensory deficits. In order to examine whether they may also affect taste sensitivity, electrogustometric thresholds were measured at 9 loci on the tongue surface in 391 healthy non-smoking, non-medicated subjects. Results showed that the greater the number of deafferented teeth, the higher the thresholds. Irrespective of age, subjects with more than 7 deafferented teeth exhibited significantly higher thresholds than subjects with fewer than 7 deafferented teeth. Conversely, across age groups, no statistical difference was observed among subjects with no, or few, deafferented teeth. Hence, a taste deficit, which was not correlated to aging, was observed. An association was noticed between the location of taste deficits and the location of deafferented teeth. Higher thresholds at anterior sites, with no possible traumatic injury relationship, suggested that neurophysiological convergence between dental somatosensory and taste pathways , possibly in the nucleus tractus solitarius , could be responsible for these relative decreases of taste sensitivity when dental afferences were lacking. Among trigeminal contributions, lingual nerve and inferior alveolar nerve may synergize taste. [source]

Neurophysiological monitoring of alveolar nerve function during sensor-controlled Er:YAG laser corticotomy in rabbits

LASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE, Issue 3 2005
Stephan Rupprecht DDS
Abstract Background and Objectives The sensor-controlled Er:YAG laser system may be a potent tool for tissue specific cutting in surgery. In order to investigate the impact of the laser on neural tissues, inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) function was monitored by the jaw-opening reflex (JOR) during specific corticotomy in rabbits. Study Design/Materials and Methods Laser jaw corticotomy was performed in 13 anesthetized rabbits. During and after specific corticotomy the JOR was evoked by electric intraoral stimulation to monitor effects on IAN function. Results The JOR permanently abolished in one case and transiently failed immediately after surgery but largely recovered within days in another rabbit. In one experiment JOR threshold increased 7 days after corticotomy. Histology did not prove any objective nerve pathology. Conclusions Monitoring IAN function by the JOR demonstrated the relatively low risk of nerve damaging during sensor-controlled laser corticotomy. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Use of Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection for Neuropathic Pain after Trigeminal Nerve Injury

PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 4 2010
Seung Hyun Yoon DDS
Abstract Objective., To present a case that neuropathic pain following traumatic injury of the inferior alveolar nerve, which was relieved by the injection of BTX-A. Design., Case report. Setting., Tertiary care University hospital. Subject., A 62-year-old female was referred by her general dentist to our clinic due to numbness and pain over the left side of her lower lip and chin region. Intervention., Botulinum toxin type A injected into the middle of chin area subcutaneously. Results., At 1 month after BTX-A injection, the affected area had decreased in size. And at 2 months, the patient reported a slight decreased in pain, and CPT differences being sustained at a reduced level. Conclusions., This case report suggests an effective new modality for treating neuropathic pain after trigeminal nerve injury. A further randomized controlled study involving a large number of patients is needed. [source]

GDNF Expression in Terminal Schwann Cells Associated With the Periodontal Ruffini Endings of the Rat Incisors During Nerve Regeneration

THE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2009
Megumi Ohishi
Abstract The terminal Schwann cells (TSCs) which play crucial roles in regeneration of the periodontal Ruffini endings (RE) exhibit immunoreaction for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). However, no information is available regarding the role of GDNF in the periodontal RE during nerve regeneration. This study was undertaken to examine the changes in GDNF expression in the rat periodontal RE following transection of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) using immunohistochemistry for GDNF and S-100 protein, a marker for the TSCs. We additionally investigated the changes in expression of GDNF in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) at protein and mRNA levels. A transection to IAN induced a disappearance of the TSCs from the alveolus-related part (ARP), followed by a migration of spindle-shaped cells with S-100 but without GDNF immunoreactions into the tooth-related part (TRP) by postoperative (PO) week 2. At PO week 2, GDNF immunoreacted cellular elements increased in number in the ARP although the spindle-shaped cells without GDNF reaction remained in the TRP. After PO week 4, many GDNF-positive TSCs appeared in the ARP though the spindle-shaped cells vanished from the TRP. A real time RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the highest elevation of GDNF mRNA in the TG at PO week 2. These findings suggested the involvement of this molecule in the maturation and maintenance of the periodontal RE during regeneration. Taken together with our previous and current studies, it appears that the regeneration of the periodontal RE is controlled by multiple neurotrophins in a stage-specific manner. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

The use of vein grafts in the repair of the inferior alveolar nerve following surgery

AUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010
RHB Jones
Abstract Damage to the branches of the trigeminal nerve can occur as a result of a variety of causes. The most common damage to all divisions of this nerve occurs as a result of facial trauma. Unfortunately, iatrogenic damage to the inferior alveolar branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve is common because of its anatomical position within the mandible and its closeness to the teeth, particularly the third molar. It has been reported there is an incidence of approximately 0.5% of permanent damage to the inferior alveolar nerve following third molar removal. Extraction of other teeth within the mandible carries a lower incidence of permanent damage. However, damage can still occur in the premolar area, where the nerve exits the mandible via the mental foramen. Dental implants are a relatively new but increasing cause of damage to this nerve, particularly if the preoperative planning is inadequate. CT scanning is important for planning the placement of implants if this damage is to be reduced. Primary repair of the damaged nerve will offer the best chance of recovery. However, if there is a gap, and the nerve ends cannot be approximated without tension, a graft is required. Traditionally, nerve grafts have been used for this purpose but other conduits have also been used, including vein grafts. This article demonstrates the use of vein grafts in the reconstruction of the inferior dental branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve following injury, in this case due to difficulty in third molar removal, following sagittal split osteotomy and during the removal of a benign tumour from the mandible. In the five cases presented, this technique has demonstrated good success, with an acceptable return of function occurring in most patients. [source]