Ectopic mandibular third molar: report of two cases by intraoral and extraoral access

Ectopic third molar displacement is a rare event in the population. The etiology of this infrequent condition has not been completely clarified. Optimal management is still unclear. In symptomatic patients surgical removal, after a careful preoperative planning, is the recommended treatment. Several surgical approaches, both extraoral and intraoral, have been described, depending on the ectopic molar position. This paper reports two cases of ectopic third molar, one located in the coronoid process and the other one in the lower edge of the mandibular body. Both teeth were removed successfully by an intraoral and extraoral approach respectively.