Subcutaneous Emphysema Is Iatrogenic Complication in Dental Surgery

Abstract

Subcutaneous emphysema in the head and neck is a well known clinical condition. It is an uncommon clinical complication of dental treatment caused by forceful injection of air into the loose connective tissue below the dermal layer. The trapped air is often limited by subcutaneous space in the head and neck. This paper presents a clinical case in which subcutaneous emphysema developed immediately during surgical extraction of third molar.