Root agenesis associated with chronic infection and traumatic curettage of the maxillary sinus

A healthy 13-year-old female was found to have no roots on the maxillary left second premolar and permanent first and second molars. Her history included chronic sinus infections treated with maxillary sinus curettage at approximately 4 years of age. The infection, or more likely the trauma associated with the surgery, may have caused agenesis of the roots. Other causes of rootless teeth such as odontodysplasia, dentin dysplasia, trauma, infection, radiation therapy, and neoplasia were excluded from her history and clinical and radiographic findings. This report suggests that damage to the developing dentition may be a serious complication of maxillary sinus surgery or chronic infection.