DID YOU KNOW? Sources of bleeding in the oral cavity

There are four main vascular sources in the oral cavity that can potentially be the source of serious or life-threatening bleeding:

Lingual artery

• Profuse bleeding can cause upper airway obstruction
• Risk of bleeding may occur from:
  • Injuries or puncture wounds to the tongue
  • Perforation of the lingual cortex of the mandible during implant placement
  • Biopsies of the tongue or the floor of the mouth

Facial artery

• Risk of bleeding may occur from: a vertical release incision in the mucobuccal fold, facial to the posterior mandibular teeth

Greater Palatine artery

• Bleeding from this artery is difficult to control due to its size
• Risk of bleeding may occur from:
  • Removal of palatal tori
  • Gathering donor tissue for grafts
  • Periodontal surgery when there is significant vertical bone loss on the palatal aspect
  • Extraction of maxillary posterior teeth when there are tears in the posterior palatal tissues

Inferior Alveolar artery

• Usually located above the inferior alveolar nerve in the molar region in the mandibular canal
• Risk of bleeding may occur from: injury or cut by a bur in the mandibular canal

Source: Manual of Minor Oral Surgery for the General Dentist, Wiley, 2006