Explain the Alveolar Nerve and Wisdom Teeth

Dentists have conducted research to explain the alveolar nerve and wisdom teeth. Most everyone knows that the wisdom teeth are those teeth that tend to grow when you are a teen or an adult; they are in the back of your mouth and often are impacted or squish out other teeth and need to be removed.

As posted in an article published online by Exodontia.com, the Interior Alveolar Nerve, or “IAN”, is a nerve that is located in the mandible, the lower jaw.

• The nerve runs through a canal in the lower jaw and runs closely with the root tips of the third molar teeth in the lower jaw.
• The nerve itself is constructed like any other, with a collagen band that holds together the fascicular and alveolar tissue.
• Research has shown that this nerve relates directly to sensations in the third molar teeth. 

Third Molar Teeth (AKA- Wisdom Teeth)

According to KY Oral Surgeons.com, the third molars, or “wisdom teeth”  are often referred to as trouble teeth.

• They get this name because of the fact that most adult jaws are not sizeable enough to accommodate their entrance.
• They’re called “wisdom teeth” because they usually don’t begin to attempt their entrance into your mouth until you are in your late teens or your early twenties, which is commonly referred to as a person’s “wisdom years.”
• The reason wisdom teeth are referred to as third molars by dentists is because of their placement in the jaw. Third molars are the farthest back molar teeth, and they’re located directly behind the second molars in the jaw.
• If the jaw isn’t large enough to allow your wisdom teeth to come through when they attempt to, they can push the teeth forward, causing teeth to become misaligned and even break in some instances.

Removal of the wisdom teeth is common, but anyone who is faced with the issue of third molar removal must be informed of the fact that damage to the Internal Alveolar Nerve can occur, and should be made aware of what the effects of that damage could be. 

Problems with Removing Wisdom Teeth

There are a number of things that can go wrong if the IAN is disrupted or disturbed during the process of removing the third molars in the mandible.  Of course, these things don't occur in most wisdom tooth extractions, but you still should be aware of them

• When the nerve itself is disrupted or damaged during the removal of any tooth, one of the most common (though rare) effects that a patient may experience is loss of sensation or heightened sensation in the lower lip and chin.
• Muscular twitches in both of those body parts may also occur if damage to the nerve occurs.

There are currently seven identifying markers that are used in the field of surgical dentistry that help dentists determine whether or not they can remove the third molar without causing damage to the Interior Alveolar Nerve.

The possibility of damage to the IAN occurring is one of the many topics covered as part of obtaining the patient's informed consent prior to removal of wisdom teeth.