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Case Reports
. 2014 Oct 1;5(3):e5.
doi: 10.5037/jomr.2014.5305. eCollection 2014 Jul.

Accidental displacement of third molar into the sublingual space: a case report

Rubens Jorge Silveira  1 , Robson Rodrigues Garcia  1 , Tessa Lucena Botelho  2 , Ademir Franco  3 , Rhonan Ferreira Silva  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Accidental displacement of third molar into the sublingual space: a case report

Rubens Jorge Silveira et al. J Oral Maxillofac Res. .

Abstract

Background: Successful extraction of third molars depends on preoperative diagnosis and planning. Gold standard preoperative examinations are performed through computed tomography, decreasing risks and avoiding potential accidents. The present report highlights the value of preoperative examinations in face of accidentally displaced third molars.

Methods: An 18-years-old female patient underwent a third mandibular molar extraction with a general dentist. Accidentally, the mandibular left third molar was displaced into the sublingual space, making necessary a second surgical step. The surgery was interrupted and the patient was referred to an expert in maxillofacial surgery.

Results: After 21 days awaiting an asymptomatic health status, the second surgical step was successfully performed using multislice computed tomography as preoperative imaging guide.

Conclusions: The present case report highlights the clinical usefulness of imaging planning and informed consents in face of legal and ethic potential complaints.

Keywords: multislice computed tomography; oral surgery; third molar; tooth extraction.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Superior (A) and inferior (B) views of the mandible, presented in three-dimensional reconstruction by means of multislice computed tomography, illustrating the position of the tooth #38 (indicated by the arrows).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Axial (A) and coronal (B) views of the mandible, presented in two-dimensional slices for bone analysis by means of multislice computed tomography, revealing a small bone fragment of the left lingual cortical plate (indicated by the arrow), broken during the surgery.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Coronal (A) and sagittal (B) views of the mandible, presented in two-dimensional slices for soft tissue analysis by means of multislice computed tomography, illustrating the relation between the tooth #38 (indicated by the arrows) and the morphologic limits of the sublingual space.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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