‘Intranasal toothache’: case report

Abstract

An ectopic tooth in the nasal cavity is a rare phenomenon, and in most cases the cause of an intranasal tooth remains unclear. The treatment of an intranasal tooth entails surgical extraction even though such teeth may remain asymptomatic; several cases have illustrated the potential significant morbidity associated with their occurrence.

Case presentation of an intranasal ectopic tooth in a pediatric patient

“…Patients with intranasal teeth present with a variety of signs and symptoms, most commonly unilateral nasal obstruction that has persisted for many months or years [1,4,6,7], as in the present case. Other findings include facial pain and discomfort, purulent rhinorrhea, recurrent epistaxis, fetid odor, and headache.…”

“…However, the teeth may be asymptomatic and revealed only by routine clinical examination or radiological investigation [8]. Clinically, an intranasal tooth may be seen as a white mass surrounded by granulation tissue [6] or as a protruding reddish mass surrounded by granulation tissue or nasal mucosa [7]. Radiographically, the nasal tooth appears as dense radiopaque shadow with the same attenuation as that of the bones.…”

Retained tooth in the nasal cavity: a rare cause of nasal congestion

“…Treatment is surgical extraction. Even if asymptomatic, extraction should still be considered, since it can cause symptoms at a later point 2 4. Our patient most likely had the intranasal retained tooth most of his life, but had late onset of symptoms.…”

“…The clinical presentation includes a variety of symptoms, especially unilateral nasal congestion, chronic discharge, ulceration and crusting of the nasal mucosa 1 3 4. Other case reports mention foreign body feeling, epistaxis, external nasal deviation, septal abscess and facial pain 3 4…”

Facial Pain Associated with CPAP Use: Intra-Sinusal Third Molar

“…The eruption of a tooth in nondentate areas is rare, although various cases of teeth erupting in the nasal septum [11], mandibular condyle [12], coronoid process [13], and palate [14] have been reported.…”