Risk of airway embarrassment during root canal therapy.

BACKGROUND

Root canal therapy (RCT) is a commonly performed dental procedure that has a good success rate. Complications of RCT usually are minor, but severe complications can occur.

METHODS

A 59-year-old Hispanic man with no history of coagulopathy started to hemorrhage profusely from the mesiolingual canal of the right mandibular first molar (tooth no. 30) during RCT. The general dentist practitioner briefly controlled the hemorrhaging by packing a gutta-percha point into the mesiolingual canal. Shortly afterward, the patient developed an expanding hematoma in the submandibular space. The authors extracted tooth no. 30, raised buccal and lingual flaps, and evacuated the hematoma.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible for clinicians to encounter significant hemorrhaging and airway compromising swelling when performing root canal therapy. Clinicians must recognize and understand how to manage such complications when they occur.