INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF PARESTHESIA: A LITERATURE REVIEW WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DISTRIBUTION BY SEX AND AGE GROUP

Abstract

Paresthesia is a neurosensory disorder that may occur following dental procedures, particularly those involving nerve structures such as the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves. This condition can impair sensation and interfere with functions such as chewing, speaking, and eating, thereby affecting patients’ quality of life. This study aimed to review the scientific literature on the incidence and prevalence of paresthesia associated with dental procedures, with emphasis on its distribution according to sex and age group. This is a narrative literature review based on searches conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases, including publications available up to 2025. The selected studies were analyzed descriptively and comparatively. The findings revealed conflicting results regarding the influence of sex on the occurrence of paresthesia, although some studies reported a higher frequency among women. Regarding age, there was a tendency toward a higher occurrence of neurosensory injuries and slower recovery in older patients, particularly following complex surgical procedures, although the findings were not consistent across studies. Anatomical factors, characteristics of the surgical intervention, and the extent of nerve injury were also found to potentially influence the occurrence and prognosis of this condition. It is concluded that paresthesia has a multifactorial etiology, making individualized surgical planning, early diagnosis, and clinical follow-up essential to promote neurosensory recovery and reduce potential sequelae.