An anatomical study of the lingual nerve in the lower third molar area

The lingual nerve (LN) is a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, and its injury is one of the major complications during oral surgery. This study aims to investigate the anatomy of the LN in the lower third molar area. Twenty sides from ten fresh-frozen adult cadaveric Caucasian heads were examined to measure the diameter of the LN. The mean diameter of the LN was 2.20±0.37 mm (range, 1.61–2.95 mm). There were no statistically significant differences in the measurements between sexes, sides, or tooth status (dentulous or edentulous). Understanding the anatomical features of the LN is essential for performing any surgical procedure in the oral region