Persistent pain and neurosensory disturbance after dental implant surgery: pathophysiology, etiology, and diagnosis

Mohanad Al-Sabbagh; Jeffrey P Okeson; Mohd W Khalaf; Ishita Bhavsar

doi:10.1016/j.cden.2014.08.004

Persistent pain and neurosensory disturbance after dental implant surgery: pathophysiology, etiology, and diagnosis

Dent Clin North Am. 2015 Jan;59(1):131-42. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2014.08.004. Epub 2014 Oct 11.

Authors

Mohanad Al-Sabbagh¹, Jeffrey P Okeson², Mohd W Khalaf³, Ishita Bhavsar⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Periodontology, Department of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky, College of Dentistry, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. Electronic address: malsa2@email.uky.edu.
² Department of Oral Health Science, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
³ Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Division, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, 7300 Wyndham Street, Sacramento, CA 95823, USA.
⁴ Division of Periodontology, Department of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky, College of Dentistry, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.

PMID: 25434562
DOI: 10.1016/j.cden.2014.08.004

Abstract

Many studies have documented the successful outcomes of dental implants, but have also reported the association of sensory disturbances with the surgical implant procedure. Postsurgical pain is a normal response to tissue injury, and usually resolves after the tissue heals. However, some patients who receive dental implants experience persistent pain even after normal healing. This article describes the basic anatomy and pathophysiology associated with nerve injury. The incidence and diagnosis of these problems, in addition to factors that result in the development of chronic persistent neuropathic pain and sensory disturbances associated with surgical implant placement, are discussed.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Etiology; Implant; Nerve injury; Neuropathic; Neurosensory; Pain; Sensation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Chronic Pain / diagnosis
Chronic Pain / etiology*
Chronic Pain / physiopathology
Dental Implantation, Endosseous / adverse effects*
Dental Implants / adverse effects*
Humans
Neuralgia / diagnosis
Neuralgia / etiology
Neuralgia / physiopathology
Postoperative Pain / diagnosis
Postoperative Pain / etiology*
Postoperative Pain / physiopathology
Somatosensory Disorders / diagnosis
Somatosensory Disorders / etiology*
Somatosensory Disorders / physiopathology
Trigeminal Nerve Injuries / diagnosis
Trigeminal Nerve Injuries / etiology*
Trigeminal Nerve Injuries / physiopathology

Substances

Dental Implants