SURGICAL APPROACH OF AN ECTOPIC THIRD MOLAR IN THE MAXILLARY SINUS

M. Di Girolamo¹, F. Cecchetti², G. Stelitano³, L. Volpe⁴, F. Boghi³, L. Ottria⁵ and D. Mazza²

¹Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy;
²Dept. of Social Dentistry and Gnathological Rehabilitation National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy;
³Private Practice Rome;
⁴Universidad Europea Valencia Grado en Odontologia;
⁵Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

Correspondence to:
Michele Di Girolamo, DDS
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention,
University of Rome “Tor Vergata”,
Rome, Italy
e-mail: micheledigirolamo@tiscalinet.it

Received:  29 July 2023 Accepted: 5 September 2023

2038-4106(2023) Copyright © by BIOLIFE This publication and/or article is for individual use only and may not be further reproduced without written permission from the copyright holder. Unauthorized reproduction may result in financial and other penalties. Disclosure: all authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

ABSTRACT

Ectopia of third molars within the maxillary sinus is uncommon. Few cases have been reported in the literature. Generally, the diagnosis of upper third molar ectopia at the level of the maxillary sinus can be made following a routine diagnostic examination such as panoramic X-ray, or CBCT in which any lesions created by the element itself can additionally be detected. Our case presents a third molar included in the left upper maxilla of a 60-year-old male patient. The element was removed under general anesthesia, and after twelve months of follow-up, new panoramic X-ray and CBCT were requested to assess the healing of the compromised area.

KEYWORDS: ectopia, molar, maxillary sinus