Table 3.
Prospective Research Articles
| Author | Year | Title | Journal | Study design | Enrolled subjects for dental implant surgeries/implants, n |
Gender/age | Location | Subjects with altered sensation |
Test(s) performed | Symptoms | Duration of symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartmann et al67 | 2017 | Neurophysiological changes associated with implant placement | Clinical Oral Implants Research | Prospective with follow-up of 9 y | 33/NA | 17 men, 16 women; median 58 y (28–80 y) | Maxilla, mandible | 1 | Mechanical and thermal QST on implant vs control side at chin and lower lip | Abnormal sensory responses to touch coexisting with numbness and temperature algesia | Followed up for 9 y; 1 patient presented late for initial evaluation; loss in MDT and VDT, with a gain in sensitization for pain were experienced by 1 patient for 9 y |
| Vazquez et al38 | 2008 | Efficacy of panoramic radiographs in the preoperative planning of posterior mandibular implants: A prospective clinical study of 1,527 consecutively treated patients | Clinical Oral Implants Research | Prospective clinical study of 1,527 consecutively treated patients | 1,527/2,584 consecutively placed | 890 women and 637 men; aged from 17 to 86 y (mean age 53 y) | Posterior segment of the completely edentulous mandible | 2 | A panoramic radiograph was the only preoperative imaging technique used to determine the incidence of altered mental nerve sensation after implant placement in the posterior segment of the mandible. | Temporary paresthesia | Lasted 3 and 6 wk; resolved spontaneously |
| Abarca et al69 | 2006 | Neurosensory disturbances after immediate loading of implants in the anterior mandible: An initial questionnaire approach followed by a psychophysical assessment | Clinical Oral Investigations | Prospective study to assess past and present neurosensory disturbances using a questionnaire and a psychophysical approach in patients treated with three immediate loaded implants in edentulous anterior mandible | 65/NA | 30 women, 35 men/30–84 y | Anterior mandible; all of them treated with 3 immediately loaded implants | 58 completed the questionnaire; 19 (33%) reported neurosensory disturbance after surgery; of these, 11 patients had less than 3 mo of disturbance, and the remaining 8 still complained of neurosensory disturbance | Questionnaire and psychophysical testing: 2-point discrimination test, light touch, thermal sensitivity | Most common sites affected: inferior lip, gingiva, chin Symptoms: numbness (9 patients), followed by cutting, beating, itching (2 patients) | Sensory disturbance lasted for 8 and 21 mo for the 8 patients. |
| Kubilius et al70 | 2004 | Traumatic damage to the inferior alveolar nerve sustained in course of dental implantation. Possibility of prevention | Stomatologija | Prospective; tactile and pain sensitivity thresholds determined during first 2 d of implantation, then 7, 14, 28, 45, 60, 90 d, followed by 1 to 2 y | 383/11,152 | 137 women, 246 men | Mandible | 68 (17.755%) suffered from inferior alveolar nerve damage after dental implant placement | Sensographic method used to detect tactile and pain sensitivity thresholds | 38 (9.92%) with mild IAN transient damage had predominant paresthesia; 27 (7.05%) with moderate IAN transient damage exhibited paresthesia; 3 (0.78%) with severe persistent IAN damage experienced hyperesthesia | Follow-up to 45 d postoperation and follow-up to 2 y |
| El-Sheikh et al71 | 2003 | Changes in passive tactile sensibility associated with dental implants following their placement | International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants | Prospective study to investigate the changes in passive tactile sensibility for a period of 3 mo following implant surgery | 5/10 (2 each) | 2 women, 3 men/56–78 y | Anterior mandible | NA | Measurement of force applied with a custom device | Significant increase in passive tactile sensitivity during 3 mo in subjects treated with immediate loading of implants | Follow-up to 3 mo after surgery |
| Walton72 | 2000 | Altered sensation associated with implants in the anterior mandible: A prospective study | Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry | Prospective study; objective and subjective tests performed before implant surgery and at planned intervals for 12 mo following surgery | 75/NA | 47 women, 28 men/40–87 y | Anterior mandible | 24% reported altered sensation in anterior mandible in the short term; with only 1% reporting changes 1 y after surgery | Objective and subjective tests | Numbness and tingling of lower lip | Follow-up to 12 mo after surgery |
| Bartling et al18 | 1999 | The incidence of altered sensation of the mental nerve after mandibular implant placement | Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | Prospective study to determine the incidence of altered sensation; neurologic testing followed up until 6 mo, or later until the altered sensation resolved after the implant surgery | 94/405 | 43 women, 51 men | Mandible | 8 patients (8.5%) reported altered sensation in the postoperative visit | Subjective assessment and neurologic testing | Paresthesia, anesthesia Most of these patients had a large number of implants placed, but the altered sensations returned to normal in all of them by 121 d following implant placement. | Follow-up to 6 mo after surgery |
| Wismeijer et al73 | 1997 | Patients’ perception of sensory disturbances of the mental nerve before and after implant surgery: A prospective study of 110 patients | British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | Prospective randomized controlled clinical trial: Patient perception of sensation of lower lip before surgery, 10 d later, and 16 mo after implant surgery | 110/NA | 76 women, 34 men; 30–80 y | Mandible | Considering a 3-mm safety margin around the mental foramen, the study still showed 7% sensory disturbance in the lower lip | Questionnaire | 26 (25%) had altered sensation of lower lip before surgical procedure; 11 (11%) at 10 d, and 10 (10%) had altered sensation of lower lip 16 mo following surgery | Follow -to 16 mo postsurgery |
| Higuchi et al15 | 1995 | Implant survival rates in partially edentulous patients: A 3-year prospective multicenter study | Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Prospective study | 139/460 | NA/15–80 y | Maxilla, mandible | NA | Questionnaire, 80% responded | 4% paresthesia of inferior alveolar nerve was reported | Follow-up to 5 y |
| Johns et al74 | 1992 | A multicenter study of overdentures supported by Brånemark implants | The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants | Prospective study with 9 clinical centers with 1-y follow-up | 133/117 in maxilla, 393 in mandible | 59 women, 74 men/ 32–75 y | Maxilla, mandible | NA | Multicenter study involving 9 clinical centers, clinical and radiologic exams | 19 patients suffered from paresthesia after mandibular implant surgery; 16 of these recovered by the time of prosthesis placement | In 1 patient, paresthesia still existed 1 y later. |
| Kiyak et al76 | 1990 | The psychological impact of osseointegrated dental implants | The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants | Prospective longitudinal questionnaire study; assessed before and after until 18 mo after surgery | 39, but a total of 27 completed the study/NA | 79.5% women, 19.5% men; 36–78 y | NA | 4.3% experienced facial paresthesia at first-stage surgery; later, 43.5% reported experience at second stage, but none reported persistent sensory changes | Questionnaire | Paresthesia | Follow-up to 14–18 mo |
| van Steenberge et al77 | 1990 | The applicability of osseointegrated oral implants in the rehabilitation of partial edentulism: A prospective multicenter study on 558 fixtures | The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants | Prospective study with 9 clinical centers; with follow-up visits after 1 wk, 1 mo, 6 mo, and 12 mo; patients will be evaluated after 24, 36, 48, and 60 mo following prosthesis placement | 154/558; 68 in maxilla, 91 in mandible (521 completed the study) | NA/15–80 y | Maxilla, mandible | 16 patients complained of transient paresthesia of lower lip; 1 year after prosthesis placement, 6 patients still complained of persistent paresthesia | Clinical exam | Paresthesia of the lower lip | Follow-up to 12 mo; then later to 60 mo after prosthesis placement |
QST = quantitative sensory testing; IAN = inferior alveolar nerve; MDT = mechanical detection threshold; VDT = vibration detection threshold.