Which muscle is most important in preventing the vestibule from obliterating during vestibuloplasty (vestibulopathy) procedures?

The mentalis muscle originates from the incisive fossa of the mandible and inserts into the skin of the chin. When it contracts, it raises and protrudes the lower lip. In the anterior mandible, the mentalis muscle is the primary muscle responsible for obliterating the vestibular depth after vestibuloplasty procedures. During vestibuloplasty to deepen the anterior mandibular vestibule (to improve denture retention), the mentalis muscle must be detached from or repositioned to prevent it from contracting and re-obliterating the vestibule. In vestibulopathy, the mentalis is the muscle most affected.