Safety aspects of mandibular lingual surgery.

Mandibular lingual surgery is commonly used in periodontal practice. There are inherent risks in such surgery which are illustrated by a case report described here. This was a case in which an emergency tracheotomy was needed after a minor procedure which involved lingual tissues. The potential problems of any form of lingual surgery are discussed. Various other surgical procedures in this region are examined in order to establish some surgical principles which may be of use to periodontists.