1. Lesson V: Nerves
Why is it important to learn about the nerves of the mouth?
How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?
12 ; all originate from undersurface of the brain
Classification of cranial nerves
Motor
Sensory
Mixed

2. What cranial nerve is of importance in dentistry?
Trigeminal nerve
V cranial nerve
It supplies sensation to the head and face
The largest of the cranial nerves
It is a mixed nerve
Emerges from the brain as a small motor nerve
Ends as a large sensory nerve
Subdivides into 3 divisions:
Ophthalmic
Maxillary
Mandibular

3. Ophthalmic Nerve It is the smallest branch of the trigeminal nerve
It is a sensory nerve
Supplying the sensations to the eyes, nose and forehead

4. Maxillary Nerve It is the 2nd largest branch of the trigeminal nerve
It has 5 different branches
Anterior superior alveolar nerve
Middle superior alveolar nerve
Posterior superior alveolar nerve
Nasopalatine nerve
Greater palatine nerve

5. Anterior Superior Alveolar Nerve
Supplies sensation to maxillary anterior teeth and their periodontal membranes and gingiva on facial side
What teeth are innervated by this nerve?
6,7,8,9,10,11
Supplies the maxillary sinus

6. Middle Superior Alveolar Nerve
Supplies maxillary premolars and their periodontal membranes and gingiva on facial side
Supplies mesiobuccal root of the maxillary 1st molar
Supplies maxillary sinus
What teeth are innervated by this nerve?
3,4,5,12,13, 14

7. Posterior Superior Alveolar Nerve
Supplies maxillary molars except mesiobuccal root of 1st molar and their periodontal membranes and gingiva on facial side
What teeth are innervated by this nerve?
1,2,3,14,15,16
Supplies lateral wall of maxillary sinus

8. Nasopalatine Nerve
Supplies the mucoperiosteum palatal to the maxillary anterior teeth
It enters through the incisive foramen
This nerve innervates the anterior palate

9. Greater Palatine Nerve
Enters through the greater palatine foramen
Innervates posterior palate
Supplies mucoperiosteum intermingling with nasopalatine

10. Mandibular Nerve It is the largest branch of the Trigeminal nerve
It is a mixed nerve
It has 3 branches:
Inferior alveolar nerve
Lingual nerve
Buccal nerve

12. Inferior Alveolar Nerve
Innervates all mandibular teeth and buccal mucosa of all teeth except molars
What teeth are innervated?
17-32
Where is the injection site for a mandibular block?
Mandibular foramen
Do we always have to anesthetize at the mandibular foramen?
No, mental foramen or infiltration on mandibular incisors

13. Lingual Nerve
Anterior 2/3 of tongue and some of soft tissues (mucosa) on the lingual side
Enters very close to inferior alveolar nerve
Injection site is the same as the inferior alveolar nerve

14. Buccal Nerve Innervates buccal tissues of mandibular molars
Injection site: buccal tissues distal to 3rd molar