Risk of airway embarrassment during root canal therapy

Dental equipment used in a dental office.

Abstract

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

Case Description. 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.

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

JADA 2013; 144(10:1144-1147).

Image: wolkenkratzer

A post by Medical News Today sheds light on the fact that poor dental hygiene affects Olympic Athlete performance.  

Almost half of the Olympic athletes who took part in the study had not attended a dental exam or hygiene appointment in the previous year, the researchers say, and 8.7% of them had never been to the dentist.

The proportion of athletes who said they were "bothered by oral health issues" totaled 42%, and 28% said it affected their quality of life.

Additionally, 18% of the athletes said they believed poor oral health was affecting their training or performance in a negative way.

Original post here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267026.php