Nerve Regeneration After Jaw Fracture

Numbness After a Jaw Fracture? How to Regain Feeling and Function

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A comprehensive guide to understanding, treating, and recovering from nerve damage after a mandibular fracture, with expert insights and practical advice."

A broken jaw, or mandibular fracture, is a painful and disruptive injury. What many people don't realize is that these fractures can often lead to nerve damage, specifically affecting the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). This nerve is responsible for sensation in your lower teeth, gums, lip, and chin. When it's injured, you might experience numbness, tingling, or altered sensation—a condition known as neurosensory deficit.

The IAN can be damaged at the time of the fracture, or during the surgery to repair it. Sometimes the nerve is directly compressed or cut by the bone fragments. Other times, the manipulation and fixation required to stabilize the jaw can cause secondary trauma to the nerve.

If you're experiencing numbness or altered sensation after a jaw fracture, know that you're not alone, and recovery is possible. This guide will walk you through the causes of IAN injury, what to expect during recovery, and proven strategies to help you regain feeling and function.

Why Does Jaw Fractures Cause Nerve Damage?

The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) runs through a canal in the mandible (lower jawbone), supplying sensation to the lower teeth, lip, and chin. Fractures in this area can directly impact the nerve through several mechanisms:

Understanding the primary causes will help frame the solutions. Here are the main factors:

Direct Trauma: The fracture itself can compress, stretch, or even sever the nerve. Bone fragments may directly impinge upon the nerve.
Surgical Intervention: Surgical procedures like open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), while necessary to stabilize the fracture, can inadvertently cause nerve damage. Manipulation of bone fragments, placement of screws, or swelling post-surgery can all contribute.
Inflammation and Swelling: Post-operative inflammation and swelling can compress the nerve within the bony canal, leading to temporary or prolonged sensory disturbances.

It's important to recognize that the location and severity of the fracture play significant roles in the likelihood and extent of nerve damage. Fractures in the angle of the mandible (the back corner of the jaw) are more prone to nerve injury compared to fractures in the body of the mandible (the front portion).

The Road to Recovery After Nerve Damage

While experiencing neurosensory deficits after a jaw fracture can be distressing, most patients experience significant improvement over time. Early management, including prompt surgical intervention when necessary, is crucial in minimizing long-term nerve damage. Be patient with the recovery process, follow your healthcare provider's recommendations, and celebrate the small victories along the way. Regaining sensation and function takes time, but with the right approach, you can achieve a successful outcome.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5125/jkaoms.2016.42.5.259, Alternate LINK

Title: Post-Traumatic And Postoperative Neurosensory Deficits Of The Inferior Alveolar Nerve In Mandibular Fracture: A Prospective Study

Subject: Oral Surgery

Journal: Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Publisher: The Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Authors: Sunil Yadav, Hitesh Chander Mittal, Sunita Malik, Vikas Dhupar, Akash Sachdeva, Vijaylaxmy Malhotra, Gurdarshan Singh

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and why is it important after a jaw fracture?

The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is a crucial nerve that runs through a canal in the mandible (lower jawbone). It's responsible for providing sensation to your lower teeth, gums, lip, and chin. After a jaw fracture, the IAN can be damaged, leading to numbness, tingling, or altered sensation, known as a neurosensory deficit. The IAN damage can directly impact your ability to feel in the affected areas, impacting daily functions such as eating and speaking.

What are the primary causes of nerve damage following a mandibular fracture?

The primary causes of nerve damage after a mandibular fracture include direct trauma from the fracture itself, surgical intervention, and inflammation and swelling. Direct trauma occurs when the fracture compresses, stretches, or severs the IAN. Surgical procedures like open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), which are used to stabilize the fracture, can also inadvertently cause nerve damage through manipulation of bone fragments, screw placement, or post-surgery swelling. Post-operative inflammation and swelling can compress the nerve within the bony canal, leading to sensory disturbances.

How does the location of the jaw fracture impact the likelihood of nerve damage?

The location of the jaw fracture significantly influences the likelihood of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury. Fractures in the angle of the mandible (the back corner of the jaw) are more prone to nerve injury compared to fractures in the body of the mandible (the front portion). This is because the IAN's pathway through the mandible varies in different regions, making it more vulnerable in certain areas.

What can I expect during the recovery process if I experience nerve damage after a jaw fracture?

If you experience neurosensory deficits after a jaw fracture, expect significant improvement over time. Early management, including prompt surgical intervention when necessary, is crucial in minimizing long-term nerve damage. Regaining sensation and function takes time, and it's essential to be patient and follow your healthcare provider's recommendations. Celebrate small victories along the way as you gradually regain feeling in your lower lip, chin, and teeth.

What treatments are available for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage after a jaw fracture, and what factors influence recovery?

While the provided text does not explicitly detail specific treatments, it highlights that prompt surgical intervention, when necessary, is crucial for minimizing long-term nerve damage. The primary focus is on managing the causes of the IAN injury and supporting the body's natural healing processes. Recovery is influenced by the severity and location of the fracture, the extent of nerve damage, and the individual's overall health. Patience and adherence to healthcare provider's recommendations are essential throughout the recovery period.