Abstract
A case of emergency tracheotomy following life-threatening hemorrhage in the floor of the mouth during routine dental implant placement in the mandibular canine region is described. The patient was a 53-year-old male who was treated with dental implants for missing teeth at a private dental office. Placement of implants in the anterior mandibular region is generally regarded as a routine, simple and safe procedure, but incidents of severe bleeding and hematoma in the floor of the mouth have been reported as a potentially fatal complication related to the placement of an implant in this region. Perforation of lingual cortical bone may lead to life-threatening hemorrhage because the floor of the mouth contains branches of the submental and sublingual arteries. This report demonstrates the importance of managing acute airway problems resulting from such perforations. The operator must be alert to the possibility of life-threatening hemorrhage when placing an implant in the anterior region of the mandible. If perforation happens, it is advisable to send the patient to an appropriate medical institution even if hemorrhage and/or swelling has not occurred.
