title: Transnasal endoscopic removal of dental implants from the maxillary sinus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The penetration of dental implants into the maxillary sinus is becoming more common as a result of the use of new techniques to rehabilitate edentulous jaws. This complication requires the removal of the foreign body, even in asymptomatic patients, to prevent inflammatory disease. This article reports the authors' experience with the surgical removal of dental implants from the maxillary sinus with an endoscopic approach via middle meatotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 10-year (2001 to 2011) retrospective analysis was performed in the authors' departments to identify all patients who underwent endoscopic removal of a dental implant from the maxillary sinus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients (seven women and nine men, mean age 50.7 years) underwent endoscopic removal of the implant from the maxillary sinus via a middle meatotomy. Seven patients (43.8%) received general anesthesia for the surgery, and nine (56.2%) were treated with local anesthesia. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. The mean follow-up period was 62 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the authors' experience, endoscopic transnasal removal of dental implants from the maxillary sinus via a middle meatotomy is a successful, rapid, safe, and minimally invasive procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Foundation Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matti
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emanuelli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pusateri
authors.forename: Carolina C S
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pagella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015921:Dental Implants; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants