Osteomyelitis of the Mandible Secondary to Pericoronitis of an Impacted Third Molar

From Volume 37, Issue 2, March 2010 | Pages 106-108

Authors

Ricardo I Mohammed-Ali

DDS, MBBS, MRCS (Eng), MFDS (Eng)

Senior House Officer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ, UK

Articles by Ricardo I Mohammed-Ali

Jeremy Collyer

FDS RCS, FRCS

Consultant, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Articles by Jeremy Collyer

Montey Garg

BDS

Senior House Officer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead RH19 3DZ, UK.

Articles by Montey Garg

Abstract

Impacted third molars are a common reason for referral to the hospital dental service. Third molar impaction can be complicated by infection. We present two cases of osteomyelitis of the mandible developing secondary to pericoronitis of partially erupted lower third molars. One of the cases reported was recently diagnosed and treated while the other was diagnosed and treated 20 years ago. The most commonly reported pathology associated with impacted lower third molars is pericoronitis. Osteomyelitis of the mandible secondary to pericoronitis is rare.

Article