Retained root fragments along septa in the maxillary sinuses

320

Oral Slug.

Roentyeno-oddities

RETAINED

ROOT FRAGMENTS

Ftrlruary,

ALONG

SEPTA IN THE MAXILLARY

1977

SINUSES

I

n making an examination for treatment of a painful right maxillary first molar, films were exposed from the third molar and the first molar angles. Exposure of the films disclosed a very definite septum in the right maxillary sinus, along which lay a root fragment. This root fragment showed a rather definite periodontal ligament and lamina dura and lay between the maxillary right first molar and the right second premolar. For this reason, we believe that in all probability it was a retained deciduous root. Since it is our common practice, when unusual things of this type are found, to compare with the opposite side, an exposure was made of the left maxillary first molar and third molar regions. In this case, the maxillary left first molar was missing; however, it was also found that there was a partial septum in the maxillary sinus extending upward from the floor of the maxillary sinus along which lay what appeared to be two root fragments. In this case, inasmuch as the first molar had been removed, one of the root fragments might be a first molar root fragment and the other a deciduous fragment, since on stereo examination both fragments appear to be on the lingual aspect. A case in which root fragments lie directly along the line of the maxillary septum on each side of the maxilla is rather unusual. These films, if properly separated and oriented, can relatively easily be seen with the stereo effect. H. Cline Pixot, D.M.D. Fred M. Sorenson, D.M.D. Department of Oral Radiology University of Oregon Health Sciences Center Portland, Ore. 97201 A PEA IN THE CHEEK

A

lo-year-old girl presented in our outpatient clinic complaining of intermittent discomfort and swellings of the right cheek of 4 years’ duration. One year previously a general surgeon in the patient’s hometown had performed an in-