Removal of a Dental Implant Displaced Into the Maxillary Sinus After Final Restoration

Displacement of a dental implant into the maxillary sinus has become a more frequent occurrence due to a greater number of implant-supported prostheses being placed in the atrophic posterior maxillary area. In addition, dentists are increasingly placing implants into augmented maxillary posterior areas. Reasons for displacement of dental implants into the maxillary sinus may include poor bone quality or quantity, failure of a sinus augmentation procedure, and poor surgical technique. When this complication occurs, the displaced implant in the maxillary sinus should be removed because it could act as a foreign body and cause numerous complications. In this case report, a 56-year-old male patient presented with pain and a loose, cemented prosthesis in the maxillary left posterior area. Radiographic examination showed that an implant with the final abutment supporting the prosthesis in site No. 14 had been displaced into the maxillary sinus. The implant and abutment were successfully retrieved from the sinus using a lateral window technique combined with several diagnostic maneuvers that will be described.