From ophthalmologist to dentist via radiology

Displaced Dental Materials in the Maxillary Sinus: An Original Series. Analysis and Definition of a Surgical Decision-Making Process

OBJECTIVES

Displacement of dental materials into the maxillary sinus occurs in daily dental practice; dental implants have become a new common foreign body (FB), as implantation has become routine. The main goal of the present study was to analyze an original series of patients consecutively treated for maxillary sinus FBs. A secondary goal was to propose a decision-making flowchart on the basis of the authors' experience and a critical analysis of literature to select the most appropriate surgical approach.

METHODS

Eleven consecutive patients evaluated for maxillary sinus FBs consisting of dental material were considered.

RESULTS

For removal of the FBs, a nasal endoscopic approach was preferred in 5 cases, a nasal combined approach in 2 cases, an oronasal combined approach in 2 cases, and a lateral window approach in 2 cases. In 2 of 11 cases, complications were reported. A decision-making flowchart to select the best surgical approach is reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The correct choice and application of FB removal techniques allow minimization of unfavorable outcomes and creation of an appropriate environment for new dental treatment. Prospective, large series-based studies will be necessary to confirm the safety and clinical efficacy of the proposed decision-making flowchart.

Odontogenic inflammatory processes of head and neck in computed tomography examinations

Background

Infections of odontogenic origin are the most common cause of inflammatory disease of head and neck region. Computed tomography allows for defining localization and extent of inflammatory lesions, visualizes soft tissue involvement, presence of an abscess or an osteolytic lesion around causative tooth.

The aim of this study was to assess pathways, by which odontogenic infections spread into respective deep head and neck structures in computed tomography examination, taking into account the following criteria: frequency of involvement of respective deep cervical spaces, possibility to determine a probable causative tooth and concordance with the results of clinical examination.

Material/Methods

Thirty-eight patients cervicofacial inflammatory disease had undergone CT examination of head and neck region with a 64-slice CT scanner after intravenous contrast administration.

Results

Abscess was reported in 30 (79%) cases, while inflammatory infiltration was diagnosed in remaining 8 (21%) patients. There was full concordance between radiological report and intraoperative report In 33 cases (87%). The most commonly involved cervical space was masticator space – 31 patients (82%), followed by submandibular space – 27 patients (71%). Dental examination was impossible in 29 patient because of trismus. During analysis of CT studies we evaluated maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes for presence of osteolytic bone lesions around causative teeth roots and we found them in 30 cases (79%). In 32 cases (84%) cervicofacial infection were of mandibular odontogenic origin.

Conclusions

In most cases CT study in patients suspected of odontogenic craniofacial infection revealed presence of an abscess, needing urgent surgery. Inflammatory infiltration of dental origin most frequently involves masticator space, followed by submandibular space. In most cases CT scanning allows for identification of causative teeth, especially when trismus makes detailed clinical examination impossible.

Removal of a dental implant displaced into the maxillary sinus by means of the bone lid technique

Background. Rehabilitation of edentulous jaws with implant-supported prosthesis has become a common practice among oral surgeons in the last three decades. This therapy presents a very low incidence of complications. One of them is the displacement of dental implants into the maxillary sinus. Dental implants, such as any other foreign body into the maxillary sinus, should be removed in order to prevent sinusitis. Methods. In this paper, we report a case of dental implant migrated in the maxillary sinus and removed by means of the bone lid technique. Results and Conclusion. The migration of dental implants into the maxillary sinus is rarely reported. Migrated implants should be considered for removal in order to prevent possible sinusal diseases. The implant has been removed without any complications, confirming the bone lid technique to be safe and reliable.