Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to objectively evaluate the IAN sensory disturbances in patients who underwent SSRO and its spontaneous recovery, to define the incidence of sensibility loss and in which time and area the recovery occurs.

Patients and methods: Clinical evaluation of the IAN sensory disturbance was undertaken preoperatively and at the first week, fourth week, two months and six months postoperatively in 30 patients who underwent SSRO at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Division of the Araraquara Dental School – Unesp and at the Plastic Surgery Division of the Medical Sciences School – Unicamp. The 30 patients were examined at all periods regarding the IAN functionality by Semmes–Weinstein testing.

Results: The mean age of the patients included in this study was 29.36 years old. All patients showed sensibility loss at the 7-day evaluation time. The comparison between sides, gender and age did not reveal any significant difference. In most of the examined zone, the data collected at 6 months was statistically similar to the data collected at the pre-operatory period. All zones presented significant recovery, starting from 30 days after surgery. Twenty patients had total spontaneous recovery at the final period, in all examined zones.

Conclusions: The SSRO presents the disadvantage of the temporary paraesthesia, however the spontaneous nerve function recovery do occur. The Semmes–Weinstein test is a reliable, cheap and easy to apply tool, which can be used for clinical evaluation in daily basis at offices and hospitals.

Conflict of interest: None declared.