Parotid gland swelling is a symptom encountered in the clinical field. However, only a few cases of swelling from emphysema of the parotid gland have been reported. Here, we report a case of emphysema of the parotid gland caused by dental treatment. A 37-year-old female was referred by her home dentist because of left lower buccal swelling. She felt pain during dental examination with home dentistry, and swelling of the left lower buccal was observed after using an air syringe. At the initial visit, clinical findings of swelling and tenderness of the left lower jaw were observed and there was no torsion sound. An image of air in the parotid gland was observed by CT examination. From the clinical findings and CT examination, we diagnosed emphysema of the parotid gland. As a treatment, antibiotics were prescribed to prevent secondary infection, and she underwent a follow-up examination. The symptoms disappeared after 2 weeks from the first visit and no recurrence of pain or swelling has been observed to date. Emphysema of the parotid gland is a rare disease, but must be prevented by considering the anatomical characteristics of the parotid gland during dental treatment.
