Damage to this nerve may cause numb chin syndrome.
The alveolar nerve, which the mental nerve branches into, is one of them.
Theinferior alveolar nerve, which runs along the lower teeth, plays both sensory and motor roles.
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Anatomical Variations
The mental nerve has some slight variations to its course.
While three branches are standard, some people have more while others have fewer.
Other times, theyre able to find it simply by palpating (feeling) the area.
In plastic surgery, anesthesia of the mental nerve is common during surgical reconstruction of the chin.
Surgeons may also use mental nerve blocks when working on the jaw or lower lip.
It may not require any treatment.
In some cases, surgery may be required.
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