Unusual facial pain secondary to inferior alveolar nerve compression caused by impacted mandibular second molar

Abstract

Symptoms of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) compression are reported during endodontic procedures, placement of implants, third molar surgeries, inferior alveolar nerve block injections, trauma, orthognathic injuries, ablative surgeries or use of medicaments. Presented is a rare case of a 15-year-old girl who reported severe pain in relation to an impacted permanent mandibular left second molar, the roots of which had entrapped the mandibular canal causing compression of IAN. Timely surgical intervention and sectional removal of the impacted molar is indicated to relieve the symptoms and avoid permanent damage to the nerve.

Keywords

• Facial pain
• inferior alveolar nerve
• nerve injury
• tooth extraction