01 · dental · Soft Tissue Injuries
Cuts to the mouth, assessed properly.
Evaluation for cuts and lacerations to the lips, tongue, cheeks, or gums.
ii.
What To Expect
These injuries often look more dramatic than they are, given how vascular the mouth is. Apply firm, steady pressure. If bleeding doesn’t ease within 15–20 minutes, or the wound is deep or jagged, come in for assessment.
FAQ
common questions
Why do mouth injuries bleed so much?
The mouth is highly vascularized, which makes even minor injuries look more alarming than they often are.
When should I come in versus manage it at home?
If bleeding doesn’t slow within 15–20 minutes, or the laceration is deep or jagged, come in.
Will I need stitches?
We’ll assess that during your visit, not every laceration requires sutures.
Could a tooth or bone be affected too?
Possibly, that’s part of what we check during the assessment.