A 38-year-old man sought care at Mount Sinai Hospital's ENT department in New York City for persistent right nostril discomfort spanning several years. Rhinoscopy and CT imaging uncovered a rare inverted ectopic tooth in his nasal cavity, as detailed in a recent New England Journal of Medicine case study.
Ectopic teeth, while uncommon, are exceptionally rare in the nasal cavity. The patient reported ongoing breathing difficulties through his right nostril.
Examination revealed a deviated septum, bony obstruction, and a 2-centimeter tear at the rear of the septum. Fiberscopic inspection identified a hard white mass protruding from the nostril floor.
CT scan confirmed it as an ectopic tooth—a term for teeth developing in abnormal locations. These affect 0.1% to 1% of the population, typically near their normal sites and easily detectable. Nasal cases like this are exceedingly rare.
While the exact formation mechanism remains unclear, genetics is a known risk factor.
Ectopic teeth aren't always treated; some reposition naturally or via orthodontics. Here, surgeons removed the 14-millimeter tooth, restoring normal breathing.
