Significance of Lingual nerve and artery

Because the nerve lies medial to the retromolar pad, incisions in this region should remain lateral to the pad and mucosal reflection should be done with the periosteal elevator in constant contact with bone to avoid injury to the nerve. As the branches of the lingual nerve carry sensory information from the lingual mucosa, mucosa of the floor of the mouth and anterior two-third of the tongue, improper reflection of lingual mucoperiosteal flap may injure the lingual nerve and produce ipsilateral paraesthesia or anaesthesia of the innervated mucosa, loss of taste and reduction of salivary secretion.