Rare Nasal Tooth Removed from 4-Year-Old at AIIMS Gorakhpur

In October 2025, surgeons at AIIMS Gorakhpur performed a rare procedure to remove a tooth lodged inside the nasal cavity of a four-year-old child. The child had been brought to the hospital with nasal pain, unilateral nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, and difficulty breathing through one nostril, symptoms that led clinicians to suspect a foreign body in the nasal passage. Imaging (CT scan) revealed a radiopaque structure consistent with a tooth embedded in the nasal cavity.

Under general anesthesia, a dental team involving Oral and maxillo-facial surgeons accessed and extracted the tooth via a transnasal route. The surgery proceeded without major complications. Postoperative reports indicate the child’s nasal breathing improved, and nasal symptoms abated. The team monitored the site for mucosal healing and for any signs of recurrence or residual obstruction.

This case is especially notable given the child’s young age and the relative rarity of such nasal ectopic tooth presentations. Most patients with intranasal teeth are older or present incidentally. The surgical success at a regional center like AIIMS Gorakhpur also indicates growing availability of pediatric facial surgical care beyond major metropolitan hubs.

The team of surgeons also advised patients and parents to not delay the care needed for cases like this as it might lead to unnecessary complications.

Background: Nasal Ectopic Teeth in a Clinical Context

An ectopic tooth (or supernumerary tooth) is one that erupts or develops outside the normal dental arch. Occurrence within the nasal cavity is rare. In such cases, patients may be asymptomatic or present with symptoms including nasal blockage, chronic discharge, nosebleeds, facial discomfort, or a sensation of a foreign body. Imaging—especially CT scans—plays a key role in identification and surgical planning.²

Etiological factors include developmental anomalies (faulty migration of tooth bud), trauma, cysts, or displacement of dental structures during growth. In children with cleft lip or palate, intranasal teeth are more commonly reported. In this case, the doctors reported a fall might have been the cause of this abnormal growth.

Surgical removal is the mainstay of treatment, usually via endoscopic (transnasal) approach to reduce morbidity. The benefits include symptom relief, prevention of secondary infections or sinus disease, and avoidance of further complications.⁴

References

1. “AIIMS Gorakhpur Doctors Remove Tooth from Four-Year-Old Child’s Nose in Rare Surgery.” India Today, October 6, 2025. https://www.indiatoday.in/health/story/aiims-gorakhpur-doctors-remove-tooth-from-four-year-old-child-nose-in-rare-surgery-2798544-2025-10-06.

2. Moreano, Eugene H., et al. “Intranasal Tooth: Case Report and Review of the Literature.” Ear, Nose & Throat Journal 77, no. 7 (1998): 604–606. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4127749/.

3. Ram, Hari, et al. “Supernumerary Intranasal Tooth: A Rare Occurrence.” National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery 10, no. 1 (2019): 102–104. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6374693/.

4. Raj, Ramesh, and K. R. Nandini. “Intranasal Ectopic Eruption of Tooth: A Rare Case Report.” International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 8, no. 3 (2022): 248–250. https://www.ijorl.com/index.php/ijorl/article/view/4573.

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