A Case of Iatrogenic Foreign Body Thought to be Inserted in the Maxilla and Maxillary Sinus During Dental Treatment

Abstract

We report a case of an iatrogenic foreign body inserted into the maxilla and maxillary sinus during dental treatment. A 73-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for evaluation and treatment of the primary complaint of an uncomfortable feeling in her left maxillary gingiva. X-ray and CT images showed a foreign body like a metal needle from the apical area of the left maxillary second molar to the left maxillary sinus. We removed the foreign body under local anesthesia through an alveolar part after extraction of the maxillary second molar. The foreign body was a fragment of a peeso reamer. Unfortunately, the patient had not been informed by the previous dentist of the aberrant insertion of the foreign body. In case of aberrant insertion, it is important to explain the fact to the patient immediately and to remove the foreign body using minimally invasive methods.