Evaluating the presence of IAN injury in patients with juxta-apical radiolucency after third molar surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Juxta-apical radiolucency (JAR) has been presented as a radiographic sign, suggestive of the IAN injury through third molar surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the relation of JAR with IAN injury in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and to determine whether the presence of JAR is related to tooth angulation, proximity to the mandibular canal, position to the IAN, and thinning of the cortical plates.

Methods: Of an initial sample of 545 mandibular third molars, a total of 75 JAR and 75 JAR teeth were evaluated by CBCT.