Orbital and Periorbital Emphysema Following Maxillary Sinus Floor Elevation: A Case Report and Literature Review

During the past 150 years, subcutaneous emphysema has been described as a rare complication in dentistry, the etiology of which might be maneuvers performed by the patient (eg, sneezing while the mouth is closed, blowing the nose) or the dental professional through the use of specific dental instruments (eg, dental drill, air syringe, etc). Irrespective of etiology, air is forced through the soft tissues, thus producing rapid swelling of the area. According to the most recent literature reviews, the iatrogenic etiology is the most frequent. This report describes the first case of emphysema related to the orbital and periorbital region after a maxillary sinus floor elevation procedure.