Lingual Shelf Case Studies
Case Studies involving Lingual Shelf
Lingual Shelf Study - Potential Damage to Lingual Artery
Mr AA from Newport (South Wales). From the 2-D image (DPT view) it appears that there is plenty of bone h eight above the inferior dental nerve to allow for safe implant placement.
However when we look at the cross-section, there is a pronounced lingual shelf, which the mylohiod muscle would prevent us from palpating. Drilling down into the socket to prepare for an implant, you would encounter hard bone which you would expect at the base of the socket. Aiming to drill further for primary stability would result in penetrating the lingual plate and puncturing the lingual artery with grave consequences.
The most recent edition of selection criteria for Dental Radiography recommends CBCT scanning for posterior mandible.