In cases of wisdom teeth located very close to a nerve, does extraction of an impacted tooth lead to a risk of permanent numbness or paralysis?

The roots of impacted teeth in the lower jaw can be anatomically very close to, or sometimes intertwined with, the main nerve canal called the ‘nervus alveolaris inferior’ (inferior alveolar nerve), which supplies sensation to the lower lip and jaw. In such risky cases, there is a small possibility of nerve damage during impacted tooth extraction. However, this does not mean permanent facial paralysis (loss of muscle movement); only temporary or, very rarely, permanent numbness in the lower lip, chin, and tongue may occur. Thanks to modern digital dentistry, a 3D dental tomography (CBCT) scan is performed before the operation to map the exact relationship between the tooth and the nerve with millimeter precision, and the extraction plan is made accordingly, minimizing the risk of complications.