Background: Among the exodontic surgeries, almost one-third are associated with inferior alveolar nerve damage subsequent to the extraction of lower third molars. The use of CBCT in the field of craniofacial surgery has demonstrated a substantial reduction in both intraoperative and postoperative problems

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find a correlation between the use of a CBCT prior to the surgical removal of lower mandibular third molars and the postoperative outcome in terms of neurological disorders.

Methods: In this retrospective study patients undergoing impaired 3rd molar extraction along with a preoperative CBCT plus preoperative orthopantomograph were evaluated. We investigated patient age, gender, intraoperative parameters including operation time, IAN exposure, and postoperative results like the requirement for medication, edema, and nerve sensitivity impairment to get complete information.

Results: Data of 130 patients evaluated in which 170 3rd molars were extracted. Procedure length was moderate (10 to 25 min) in 54% of patients. The intraoperative exposure of the IAN was documented in 9 cases (6.9%). The majority of patients (n=112) demonstrated a decrease in postoperative pain and edema after 7 days (86.2%). Only 18 instances (13.8%) had a prolonged healing phase. Ten cases (7.7%) with transient changed feelings were observed. Most people had a brief change in feeling in their IIIC teeth and mesio-angulated molars.

Conclusion: We did not observe any harm to the IAN bundle and postoperative feeling was always transitory. Preoperative CBCT does not minimise postoperative neurological damage, although it may lead to a less invasive surgical approach.