The lingual nerve provides general sensation, including touch, pain, and temperature, to the front two-thirds of the tongue. It also carries taste information from this region. This nerve influences functions such as speech and chewing. Damage to the lingual nerve can impair these daily activities, impacting oral health and quality of life.
Recognizing Lingual Nerve Damage
Lingual nerve damage causes altered sensations in the tongue. Individuals often experience numbness or a tingling feeling, particularly on one side. Other common sensory changes include burning, prickling, or a crawling sensation. Hypersensitivity to stimuli, where normal touch feels painful, can also occur.
Taste may be diminished or lost on the affected side of the tongue, or food might taste metallic. While direct visual signs of nerve damage are absent, consequences of altered sensation can become visible. For instance, reduced feeling might lead to accidental self-biting, causing minor sores or changes in the tongue’s texture.
Functional impairments are common with lingual nerve damage. Difficulty speaking clearly can arise due to altered tongue sensation or control. Eating and swallowing can become challenging, as individuals may struggle to manage food or perceive temperatures accurately.
Common Causes of Lingual Nerve Damage
Dental procedures are a frequent cause of lingual nerve injury due to its close proximity to the lower jaw. Wisdom tooth extraction, particularly of the lower third molars, is a primary culprit, as the nerve runs near these teeth. Other dental interventions, such as lower jaw dental implant placement and root canal treatments, can also pose a risk.
Local anesthetic injections in the lower jaw can injure the nerve through direct physical trauma from the needle or chemical irritation from the anesthetic. Beyond dental work, physical trauma to the mouth or jaw, such as from accidents or sports injuries, can damage the lingual nerve.
Less common causes include medical conditions affecting nerves. Tumors, infections, or inflammatory conditions in the oral cavity or surrounding areas can impact the nerve. Medical procedures like intubation, where a tube is inserted into the airway, can lead to nerve compression or injury.
Managing and Treating Lingual Nerve Damage
Management of lingual nerve damage begins with observation, as many minor injuries are temporary and resolve spontaneously. Approximately 90% of temporary injuries improve within eight to twelve weeks. If symptoms persist beyond three to six months, further intervention is considered.
Pharmacological interventions help manage symptoms, particularly neuropathic pain. Medications like tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants are prescribed to alleviate discomfort. In acute phases, corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation if contributing to the nerve’s condition.
For severe or persistent damage, surgical nerve repair is an option. Procedures include directly reconnecting severed nerve ends or using nerve grafting if a section is missing. Nerve conduits, small tubes, also guide nerve healing. While surgery improves sensation, full recovery is not guaranteed, and outcomes vary.
Supportive therapies, such as physical therapy, improve oral function and speech. Counseling is also beneficial for individuals coping with the daily challenges and emotional impact of chronic symptoms.
When to Seek Professional Help
Consult a healthcare professional if you experience persistent symptoms of lingual nerve damage. If numbness, altered sensation, or pain do not improve or worsen following an oral procedure or injury, seek evaluation. Symptoms that significantly impact your ability to eat, speak, or affect your quality of life warrant prompt attention.
An initial assessment is done by a general dentist, who refers you to a specialist. Oral surgeons, neurologists, or ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists are involved in diagnosing and managing such conditions. Early diagnosis and intervention lead to more favorable outcomes for nerve recovery.