Pharmacologic management of trigeminal nerve injury pain after dental implant surgery

Purpose: Injuries to the trigeminal nerve are a common postoperative complication of dental implant surgery. Usually, the altered sensation and neuropathic pain caused by the nerve injury is temporary, but a permanent neurosensory disorder can sometimes occur. Surgery is commonly used to treat this condition, but the treatment is associated with some complications and a relatively low success rate. This study analyzed the characteristics of pharmacologic management of trigeminal nerve injury pain after dental implant surgery. Materials and Methods: Eighty-five patients who visited a temporomandibular joint and orofacial pain clinic with a history of trigeminal nerve injury pain after dental implant surgery were enrolled in this study. The pharmacologic management for trigeminal nerve injury pain was evaluated by prescribing a variety of medications for 12 weeks according to the prescription protocol of the study. The patients’ pain characteristics, average percentage of pain reduction, and pain relieving factors were investigated prospectively. Results: Patients who took anticonvulsants and antidepressants for at least 12 weeks reported a mean reduction in pain of 24.8%. Interestingly, patients who experienced an altered sensation and neuropathic pain for more than 1 year also reported a reduction in pain and discomfort, with an average decrease of 17.1%. In addition, it was found that early treatment using medications had a significant effect on reducing the level of pain and discomfort. Conclusion: These results suggest that pharmacologic management can be used for treating trigeminal nerve injury pain after dental implant surgery.