Surgical treatment option of the patent nasopalatine duct: a case report

The nasopalatine duct (NPD) is a bilateral, epithelium-lined oronasal communication formed in the early fetal period. It connects the oral cavity with the nasal cavity within the primary palatal process. Mostly, the NPD obliterates during prenatal development and only epithelial remnants can be found after birth. A persistent NPD is therefore considered a developmental abnormality that often exists undetected without any clinical signs of discomfort. The presence of a persisting NPD, however, can be associated with pain sensation in the anterior maxilla. Differential diagnosis of the patent NPD is of importance, in order to prevent unnecessary therapy, such as endodontic treatment or tooth extractions. The present case report describes the diagnostic procedures, surgical treatment and follow-up of the patent NPD in a 53-year-old female patient suffering from maxillary pain caused by a patent NPD.