A 57-year old woman from Italy was diagnosed with a dental implant in the sinus, according to Live Science.
This discovery was revealed to her after she went to consult with a physician for her sinuses and facial pain. Two years ago, the woman underwent oral surgery to place an implant as a replacement for a missing tooth in her upper jaw area.
However, after an inspection of her mouth, another physician revealed that the said implant was placed inside her nose. After the surgery, the patient said that her symptoms improved rapidly and eight months later, at a check-up, she still do not have any symptoms, according to the Daily Mail. The woman's tests also revealed that her sinus has returned to normal and there has been no lasting damage done. The issue was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Study researcher Alberto Schreiber of the University of Brescia in Italy told Live Science that "I believe the implant was probably in the woman's sinus for at least a year, and perhaps ever since the surgery two years earlier. He also added that other cases of dental implants ending up in the sinus have also been reported previously.
Consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon Luke Cascarini, from the London Clinic said, "When the implant is inserted, if it doesn't fully integrate, it can migrate either to the surface or to a sinus as it is treated as foreign body." He also explained that the implants would have been able to migrate only if it was not attached to the bridge of the nose or false tooth which is both very rare.
