Maxillary sinusitis caused by dental implants extending into the maxillary sinus and the nasal cavities

This report describes the case of a patient who underwent osseointegrated dental implant placement. The implants were misplaced inside the nasal fossae and in the right maxillary sinus, causing chronic purulent sinusitis. CT scan without contrast showed signs of right maxillary sinusitis and confirmed the misplacement of four dental implants that surfaced into the nasal cavities. The imaging also revealed the presence of another implant that emerged inside the maxillary sinus. The patient underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery with complete symptom remission at the long-term follow-up. We propose that sinusitis caused by protrusion of implants and by sinus floor lift procedures could share common physiopathological patterns and predisposing factors.