Transmasseteric antero-parotid (TMAP) approach: a surgical technique adaptation for ectopic subcondylar third molar removal and literature review (1980-2014)

Abstract

Introduction: Subcondylar ectopic third molars are rare and their surgical management can be difficult. Our literature review identified eight patients (1980-2014) who had ectopic subcondylar third molars surgically removed; seven by an extraoral approach and one intraorally. Conventional extraoral approaches to the subcondylar region include preauricular, retromandibular, or submandibular. We adapted the TMAP approach to remove a subcondylar ectopic third molar and associated odontogenic cyst. This was the first description of this technique for this clinical problem.