Mandibular canal

The mandibular canal contains the inferior alveolar nerve which may be damaged from exposure to endodontic filling materials. Paresthesia of the nerve can be debilitating. Case histories and experimental studies suggest that formaldehyde-containing sealers may be particularly prone to initiate this condition. This has two reasons: 1, these materials are often applied as cements with poor control of their placement in the root canal and a considerable risk of overfilling, and 2, the chemical nature of the sealers seem to irreversibly destroy the ability of the nerve to conduct nerve signals.