Partial tooth formation diagnosed eight years after an extraction of the maxillary third molar germ in a complete...

Orthodontic purposes, such as the prevention of anterior crowding, are common and controversial indications for surgical removal of the third molar (M3) germ in young patients. A higher tooth bud position and the risk of tooth displacement in the infratemporal fossa when surgery of the maxillary M3 germ is planned makes the success of germectomy unlikely with little benefit. A rare complication of maxillary M3 germ surgery is partial tooth building after germectomy.

We report the case of a 14-year-old patient who was referred for germectomy of the maxillary M3 in the early development germ stadium to address space constraints and obstruction to the eruption of the second molar (M2) teeth. Computed tomography (CT) examination was used to verify the position and development of the maxillary M3 germ. The surgical procedure was performed without any complications. Eight years after the surgery, the patient presented with indefinable pain in the right upper jaw in the germectomy area. Cone-beam CT revealed a partial tooth formation in the form of a radix relict in the region of the maxillary M3.

The ongoing debate surrounding germectomy revolves around its indications and timing, considering factors such as patient age, anatomical appearance, and root formation stage. Complications, like partial tooth formation postgermectomy, highlight the importance of precise timing in treatment.

This is the first report of partial tooth formation as a complication after germectomy of the M3 germ in a complete crown-formation stadium.