Trigeminal Nerve Repair Surgery

During surgery, nerve scar tissue is traced back to where it’s still healthy in the soft tissue and the nerve repaired. This provides a path for the nerve to regrow, which takes about six to nine months. Surgery is performed through the mouth, so there is no visible scar. Following surgery, patients see the doctor at one week and then at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 month markers to check their progress.

Injury to the nerves in the face or mouth can occur for a variety of reasons including facial trauma or a patient's facial structure's predisposition to common dental procedures. When this happens, people experience numbness or pain in their face. Oftentimes, injuries heal within months. When they don't, nerve repair surgery at BMC can provide significant relief.

The decision to repair a damaged nerve is individual and depends on the impact to the patient's daily life, nature of the injury, and time since the injury occurred, but they can often expect 60-80% of feeling to return within one year and immediate relief from any present pain.

Departments and Programs Who Treat This Condition

department

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Boston Medical Center consists of two distinct divisions: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.