Preauricular Approach for Removal of a Displaced Dental Implant From the Infratemporal Fossa: A Case Report.

The placement of pterygoid implants offers a viable solution for the rehabilitation of the atrophic posterior maxilla. A 76-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital. She suffered from facial swelling and pain caused by pterygoid implant displacement. The implant migrated into the right infratemporal fossa during an immediate loading procedure. Imaging studies, including cone-beam computed tomography, confirmed the ectopic position of the implant. The implant was successfully retrieved via a preauricular approach under general anesthesia. The postoperative course was uneventful, with satisfactory wound healing and no complications such as nerve injury or hemorrhage observed during follow-up. Implant displacement into the infratemporal fossa is a rare but serious complication of pterygoid implant placement. The selection of the surgical approach must be based on a meticulous evaluation of the implant's precise location, depth, and its relationship to critical surrounding neurovascular structures, as well as the patient's overall health status.