Bilateral Ectopic Eruption of a Maxillary Third Molar Tooth from the Infratemporal Surface of the Maxilla in a Dry Human Skull.

Abstract

Unilateral ectopic eruption in an infratemporal region (ITR) is rare and hardly documented a couple of times. However, the bilateral third molar in the ITR presented here is rarely described. ITR has a complex anatomy and is a house of many vital structures. Ectopic eruption of a tooth in this region may manifest in different ways depending on the effected anatomical structure. In this article, we report bilateral ectopic erupted third maxillary molar tooth that was found in a dry human skull. The tooth was partially erupted on both sides from the infratemporal surface of the maxilla, and the direction of the eruption was downward and laterally. The morphology and morphometric measurement of the ectopic tooth with the surrounding anatomical structures has been performed with the help of Vernier caliper. Knowledge of such rare anomalies may be helpful for the ear, nose, and throat and maxillofacial surgeon for the early diagnosis and treatment, hence avoiding the unnecessary hassle of the patient.