Which of the following structures is innervated by the mental nerve?

The mental nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, primarily innervates the buccal soft tissue in the anterior region of the mandible. This includes the soft tissues overlying the premolar teeth. Therefore, the correct answer relates specifically to the soft tissues that are located buccally over the area of the premolars, which the mental nerve effectively supplies with sensory innervation.

While other choices refer to different areas that may receive innervation from other branches of the trigeminal nerve, they do not align with the specific territory served by the mental nerve. For instance, the lingual soft tissues of the incisors are innervated by the lingual nerve rather than the mental nerve, while the pulp of the incisors receives sensory fibers from the incisive nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve. As for the buccal soft tissue of the molars, this region is also served by the buccal nerve, which is a separate branch from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. Thus, the mental nerve's specific role in sensory innervation of the buccal soft tissue of the premolars accurately confirms the correct answer.