[Cheek swelling after surgical removal of third molar].
A 55-years-old man visited his family doctor because of a one-day existing, not painful, right-sided swelling of the cheek. It appeared to be a subcutaneous emphysema, caused at an attempt to remove mandibular third molar roots, using a water- and air-cooled air rotor. Rare potential seũelae resulting from subcutaneous emphysema are venous air embolism, airway obstruction because of neck swelling, pneumomediastinum, and mediastinitis. Using air-cooled instruments in surgical orofacial treatments should be avoided because of the possible atrogenic life-threatening complications.
Universitair Mendisch Centrum Utrecht. gavessen@knmg.nl
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GA
van Essen
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de Baat
D002610:Cheek; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods