Removing Foreign Bodies From the Maxillary Sinus: Sinus Area Classification and Technique Selection.

The displacement or invasion of a foreign object (eg, amalgam, dental bur, dental cement, dental implant) into the maxillary sinus can lead to various negative sequelae. Several techniques have been described for the removal of such objects, but although all of them require correct diagnosis and accurate determination of the exact size and location of the foreign object before the removal procedure is performed, high postoperative complication rates often result from these invasive procedures. The authors propose the categorization of two different types of maxillary sinus areas that can be invaded by dental implants and/or foreign objects; diagnosis and treatment are predicated on differentiating and/or identifying these two spaces. The clinical implications of these classifications include the ability to select from and execute appropriate and minimally invasive removal techniques, which are described and demonstrated in three presented case reports.