About us

The University of Sheffield Charles Clifford Dental Hospital is a world-leading centre for the repair of trigeminal nerves.

Professor Fiona Boissonade standing next to a giant model of gums and teeth.

Damage to the trigeminal nerve can be distressing and in some cases extremely painful. So, we’ve developed a treatment capable of repairing the damaged nerve.

The function of the trigeminal nerve is to provide sensation and motor functions to the mouth and face. It’s comprised of two smaller nerves which are each responsible for a different part of the face. The inferior alveolar nerve provides sensation to the lip and chin and the lingual nerve provides sensation to the tongue. These nerves may be injured during surgical procedures such as wisdom tooth removal or corrective jaw surgery.

The impact of this damage can be both physical and emotional.
Physical symptoms can include:

  • Numbness
  • Abnormal sensations or pain such as pins and needles, tingling, burning or sharp pains
  • Loss of taste on the affected side
  • Reduced salivation
  • Difficulty speaking, chewing or swallowing
  • Sensitivity to touch on the face

We’ve worked alongside patients and clinicians across the University of Sheffield School of Clinical Dentistry and the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital to optimise our treatment and ensure the best outcomes for patients.

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