When bone height is severely reduced in the lower jaw, placing dental implants becomes challenging. The lower jaw contains a major nerve called the inferior alveolar nerve, which runs through a canal inside the bone. If the bone above this nerve becomes too thin, implants cannot be placed safely without risking nerve injury.

Nerve lateralization is a special surgical technique used to gently move this nerve aside, allowing implants to be placed without pressure or damage. It is an advanced procedure, usually recommended when other grafting methods are not enough.