Emergency Tracheostomy Following Life‐Threatening Hemorrhage in the Floor of the Mouth During Immediate Implant Placement in the Mandibular Canine Region

Background: The edentulous interforaminal mandibular area is frequently the preferred area for implant placement. Methods: A case of emergency tracheostomy following life‐threatening hemorrhage in the floor of the mouth during immediate implant placement in the mandibular canine region is described. The probable cause was bleeding from the sublingual artery or a branch of that artery following implant perforation of the lingual cortex. Results: Healing was uneventful and the patient was released from the hospital after 11 days. Three years later, CT showed a well‐osseointegrated implant with a severe buccolingual inclination. Conclusions: It is stressed that short implants (14 mm or less) should be used in the mandibular canine region and that effective treatment of this complication is essential. J Periodontol 2000;71:1893‐1895.