Iatrogenic displacement of impacted mandibular third molars or their roots into adjacent soft tissues and spaces: A report of three cases

Iatrogenic tooth displacement is a rather unusual but significant complication during extractions' procedures. The most common anatomic positions of displacement for the lower teeth include the pterygomandibular, submandibular, sublingual, and lateral pharyngeal spaces. A retrospective analysis of three cases of tooth displacement to adjacent anatomic sites is presented. These patients were treated at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, G. Papanikolaou General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Greece. Two cases refer to displaced roots in the submandibular space, and one refers to a lower third molar displaced in the lateral pharyngeal space. Third molar displacement is a clinical complication that should be considered during mandibular third molar extraction, and proper preventive measures should be taken into consideration.