Case series of undetected intranasal impression material in patients with clefts

We report the cases of two female patients in their twenties who had had corrective surgery for bilateral cleft lip and palate as babies. They had both had residual palatal fistulas and had had further treatment that required repeated dental impressions. Several years later both had complained of persistent nasal discomfort and discharge, and routine clinical examination and investigations had failed to identify the cause. Full examination of the whole nasal cavity under general anaesthesia, in both cases, showed the presence of displaced dental impression material in the nasal floor. Removal resulted in complete resolution of symptoms.