[Cheek swelling after surgical removal of third molar]

Abstract

A 55-years-old man visited his family doctor because of a one-day existing, not painful, right-sided swelling of the cheek. It appeared to be a subcutaneous emphysema, caused at an attempt to remove mandibular third molar roots, using a water- and air-cooled air rotor. Rare potential seuelae resulting from subcutaneous emphysema are venous air embolism, airway obstruction because of neck swelling, pneumomediastinum, and mediastinitis. Using air-cooled instruments in surgical orofacial treatments should be avoided because of the possible atrogenic life-threatening complications.