Inferior alveolar nerve transposition and reposition for dental implant placement in edentulous or partially edentulous mandibles: a multicenter retrospective study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the success and complications following inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) transposition/reposition for dental implant placement in edentulous or partially edentulous mandibles. This was a multicenter retrospective study; patients who had undergone IAN transposition/reposition at four surgical clinics were retrospectively evaluated. Adverse effects, especially neural disturbances, were recorded and followed. Overall, 68 IAN reposition and 11 nerve transposition procedures were performed in 57 patients (only three patients reported on smoking). The residual bone above the IAN was an average 3.88 ± 1.98 mm. A total of 232 dental implants were inserted in the area after transposition/reposition of the nerve. The average follow-up time was 20.62 ± 9.79 months, ranging from 12 to 45 months. One implant loss was observed during the follow-up period. Four patients reported prolonged transient neural disturbances immediately following surgery (5% of the operations). The duration of neural disturbances after the surgery ranged from 1 to 6 months. No permanent neural damage was reported. Thus, within this study's limitations, it can be concluded that IAN transposition and reposition are useful adjunct techniques for managing severely atrophic edentulous or partially edentulous mandibles with dental implants. The risk of neural dysfunction appears to be low.