A Case of Impacted Tooth in the Maxillary Sinus: CT Findings

Abstract

We report a case of impacted tooth in the maxillary sinus. The frequency of ectopic impacted tooth is higher with permanent teeth than with deciduous teeth, and the mandibular third molars are the most commonly impacted teeth. The most common site of ectopic impacted teeth is the maxillary canine area, followed by the mandibular molar area and ramus. However, impaction in the nose or maxillary sinus has rarely been reported. We encountered a patient with an impacted tooth located in the maxillary sinus. This case was coincidentally found on panoramic radiography and computed tomography (CT) for assessment of the alveolar bone with dental implantation. CT showed a marginal high-absorption area with clear and smooth boundaries of the long axis 18 mm in size, located in the floor of the left maxillary sinus. We confirmed the tooth as the second premolar impacted in the maxillary sinus from imaging findings of panoramic radiography and CT.