Removal of a maxillary third molar from the infratemporal fossa by a temporal approach and the aid of image-intensifying cineradiography.

Displacement of maxillary third molar into the infratemporal fossa (ITF) is frequently mentioned but rarely reported. A case of dislocation of a maxillary third molar into the ITF is described. Imaging included CT scan that demonstrated the 3-D anatomical localization of the tooth. The tooth was found to be in the ITF, between the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus and the zygomatic arch. The tooth was retrieved immediately, under local anesthesia via intraoral approach, through the dislocation tract. The healing was uneventfull. The intraoral approach under local anesthesia allows removal of such a displaced tooth with minimal morbidity and is highly recommended.