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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Tongue numb after wisdom tooth extraction
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Tongue numb after wisdom tooth extraction
by Tim__0, Nov 20, 1998 12:00AM
My brother recently had his wisom teeth removed. Since the surgery he has lost all feeling in half of his tongue. He is being scheduled to see a neurologist. Is this a normal symptom? What are the possible causes? Since the incident he has developed speech problems and sores all over his tongue from inadvertant tongue biting.
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Dear Tim,
thank you for the question. When I had oral surgery to remove my wisdom teeth I too had numb tongue. My tongue was numb only for a few hours after the surgery. This is easily explained by local anesthesia to block branches of the mandibular nerve (supplies sensation to the lower jaw, the lower jaw teeth, tongue, upper lip). Depending on the surgery, that is how big of an opening was made to remove the teeth, and during the actual injection/blocking of the nerve, it may be injured. The longer the numbness persists after the surgery, the less likely the sensation will return.
Of course there are other causes of mandibular or mental neuropathy but the temporal relationship suggest it was related to the surgery.
I hope this information helps.
Good luck.
==============
Dear Tim,
thank you for the question. When I had oral surgery to remove my wisdom teeth I too had numb tongue. My tongue was numb only for a few hours after the surgery. This is easily explained by local anesthesia to block branches of the mandibular nerve (supplies sensation to the lower jaw, the lower jaw teeth, tongue, upper lip). Depending on the surgery, that is how big of an opening was made to remove the teeth, and during the actual injection/blocking of the nerve, it may be injured. The longer the numbness persists after the surgery, the less likely the sensation will return.
Of course there are other causes of mandibular or mental neuropathy but the temporal relationship suggest it was related to the surgery.
I hope this information helps.
Good luck.
