Role of computerized tomography in management of impacted mandibular third molars.

Nerve injury following mandibular third molar (M3) removal is a rare but serious complication. The purpose of this article is to review the role of currently available imaging technologies to facilitate clinical decision-making in the setting of M3 surgery. Given findings suggestive of high risk for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury, the clinician should consider additional imaging to assess better the anatomic relationship of the IAN and M3.