Retrieval of a displaced tooth in the maxillary sinus with implant placement to rehabilitate the site

Abstract

One of the important complications related to the maxillary sinus is the accidental dislocation of a tooth into this sinus either during exodontias or as a result of traumas and pathologies. It is considered a rare occurrence, and has been previously described in a few papers, most of which involve third molars. A tooth or root fragment may be retrieved from the maxillary sinus by certain known ways, such as the Caldwell-Luc (anterior antrostomy) procedure, or by pulling out the tooth or root fragment through the accidental opening in the alveolus, if the perforation is fresh. Another possible retrieval technique recently described is the sinus lift approach, which allows removing the root fragment from the maxillary sinus with minimal damage to the epithelial lining and anterior face of the maxilla. The purpose of this study is to report the case of a premolar displaced into the maxillary sinus, showing two surgeries related to the treatment: the first, using a lateral wall sinus approach – a well-known surgical technique – that was done to retrieve the tooth from the sinus, and the second, involving ridge bone expansion, sinus floor elevation, and implant placement to rehabilitate the compromised site.