To avoid injury to the mental loop (Fig.2 dashed line), the depth of initial osteotomy is tightly controlled apical to the bottom of the socket.  Accurate measuring is the 2nd important measure to assure no or minimal neurological trauma. The wide socket (due to infection) allows to place an implant as wide as 7 mm.

Each of intraop PAs (Fig.2-5) is accompanied by one without labeling the mental loop.  For example, Fig.2'.  This shows the importance to delineate it every time X-ray taken.  Sometimes it is not easy to identify the boundary of the nerve.

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Xin Wei, DDS, PhD, MS 1st edition 05/18/2013, last revision 01/19/2018