Vitamins in the Management of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Sensory Disturbances: A Scoping Review of Randomized Studies

Abstract

Background: Sensory disturbances of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) may follow dental and maxillofacial procedures and impair oral function and quality of life. This scoping review mapped randomized evidence on vitamin-based treatment of established IAN sensory disturbances. Methods: The review protocol was developed prospectively and registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF; osf.io/bvd54). PubMed, CENTRAL, BASE, SciELO, Europe PMC, and the Virtual Health Library (BVS) Regional Portal were searched from inception, with searches conducted between 31 August and 19 September 2026; the LILACS collection was also searched separately within BVS. Eligible studies compared a vitamin-based intervention with placebo, no vitamin supplementation, or the same standard care without another active treatment. Results: Three randomized studies involving 164 analyzed participants were included. They evaluated heterogeneous B-complex regimens after implant placement, bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, or mandibular third-molar extraction. One study found no significant between-group differences in paresthesia or pain. Another reported greater improvement in sensory-disturbance-related quality of life at 3 and 6 months in a 19-participant subset. The third reported more frequent regression of sensory disturbances in the vitamin group, although no between-group significance test was provided for this comparison and key p values represented within-group changes. Adverse events were not systematically reported. Conclusions: The evidence is sparse and methodologically heterogeneous and does not support firm conclusions regarding clinical effectiveness. Better reported randomized trials using standardized sensory outcomes and explicit safety monitoring are needed.