Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze medium-to-long-term implant success and survival rates,
and lower lip sensory disturbance after placement of dental implants with simultaneous inferior alveolar nerve (IAN)
repositioning.
Methods: Fifteen patients (3 men, 12 women) treated in two centers were included in this retrospective study. The
ages of the participants ranged from 19 to 68. A total of 48 dental implants were placed in 23 posterior mandibular
segments simultaneously with IAN transposition or lateralization. The residual bone above the IAN ranged from 0.5
to 7.0 mm. Crestal bone changes were measured using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.
Disturbance of the IAN was evaluated subjectively using a modified questionnaire.
Results: The healing process was uneventful in fourteen patients. In one patient, spontaneous fracture of the
operated mandible occurred on tenth day after the surgery. The implant in the fracture line was removed at the
time of open reduction and fixation. One more implant was lost after 5 years of loading. Therefore, the overall
dental implant survival rate was 95.8%, whereas all implants in function were judged as successful after a follow-up
period of 1 to 10 years. Transient neurosensory disturbances (ND) were observed in all patients who underwent IAN
lateralization and IAN transposition. At follow-up times of 3 years, 5 years, and 10 years, weak hypoesthesia
remained in two subjects treated with IAN transposition. None of the patients developed neuropathic pain after the
procedure.
Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, we conclude that reconstruction of severely resorbed mandibles
with dental implants in conjunction with IAN repositioning is an effective and reliable technique. Although
neurosensory disturbances are the most common complication after surgery, they tend to resolve over time.
Advanced surgical skills are required to perform this technique.
Keywords: Inferior alveolar nerve transposition, Inferior alveolar nerve lateralization, Dental implant survival rate,
Dental implant success rate, Neurosensory disturbance
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