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Radiology forum

ASYMPTOMATIC ECTOPIC IMPACTED MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR

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adiographs of the maxillary left second molar of a 27-year-old woman were taken. Although no gross diseasewas found on intraoral and extraoral examination, except for a retained carious root of the maxillary left second molar, a periapical radiograph revealed a portion of an impacted mandibular left third molar in the region of the subcondylar sigmoid notch (Fig. 1). A panoramic radiograph confirmed the presence of the tooth (Fig. 2). The patient was

informed of this finding. The possible complications of her condition and the importance of periodic diagnostic radiographic and clinical examination were stressed,but no treatment was performed at the time. Chainut Chongruk, DDS Dental School Mahidol University Yothee St. Bangkok 10400, Thailand

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Fig.

patient was referred to the radiology department of the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne for a panoramic radiograph and an additional view of the lower right premolar area on an intraoral film. The panoramic radiograph, which was taken with a Siemens OR5 machine (Siemens-Elema AB, Solna, Sweden), shows in the lower right premolar region two premolars with identical restorations (Fig. 1). The intraoral view, which was taken immediately after the panoramic radiograph, however, shows only one premolar (Fig. 2). The explanation of this artifact is as follows. The Orthopantomograph scans the right-hand side of the patient in an anteroposterior direction. When the

Fig.

Fig.

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PREMOLAR

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Asymptomatic ectopic impacted mandibular third molar.

520 Radiology forum ASYMPTOMATIC ECTOPIC IMPACTED MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR R adiographs of the maxillary left second molar of a 27-year-old woman we...
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