High lingual split access osteotomy for ectopic third molar in mandibular ramus region – A case report and literature review

Abstract

Ectopic occurrence of mandibular third molar is a rare incidence. Usually found along with a cystic lesion or diagnosed incidentally during routine check-up. Owing to the rarity, only few cases were reported in the literature. The common site is the mandibular condyle followed by sigmoid notch, and often found in females. The frequent symptoms are obscure facial pain, trismus or the symptoms of the associated pathology like dentigerous cyst. The etiopathogenesis is uncertain and optimal management is still unclear. The symptomatic tooth should be removed either intraorally or extraorally. Here we report a case of ectopic mandibular third molar in ramus region surgically removed intra orally by high lingual split access osteotomy.