Nerve repositioning or nerve lateralisation is used in cases when a patient needs to have a number of missing lower back teeth replaced, but the patient’s bone mass is not tall enough for dental implants to be placed successfully.

Nerve repositioning or nerve lateralization involves the repositioning of the inferior alveolar nerve, which is the nerve that supplies feeling to a patient’s chin and lower lip areas. The placement of dental implants in patients who have experienced significant bone loss in the lower jaw area may not be possible without damaging the inferior alveolar nerve – which is why the movement or repositioning of this nerve is needed. This technique allows the whole height of the lower jaw to be made available for the placement of longer dental implants.

Nerve repositioning is a dental procedure used in cases when the patient has missing teeth in the back end of his lower jaw area, and requires a dental implant to be placed in this particular area. A nerve repositioning technique is needed when the patient does not have sufficient bone height in the lower jaw area to support the placement of a dental implant, or if the quality of the bone mass in the affected area is not strong enough to hold the dental implants firmly in place.

This technique provides an alternative to the need for an onlay bone grafting technique. This is an advanced technique and does carry a risk of nerve damage which may leave a patient with an altered sensation or numbness of the lower lip on surgical side. This may be transient or permanent and patients should not undergo this technique without being prepared for this outcome.

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