Olarinmoye EO¹*, Ogundana AC^1,2, Umeizudike KA^1,2 and Ayanbadejo PO¹

¹Department of Preventive Dentistry, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba Lagos State, Nigeria
²Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Olarinmoye EO, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba Lagos State, Nigeria.

Received: August 26, 2025; Published: October 29, 2025

Abstract

Background: Periodontal abscesses are localized acute bacterial infections within the periodontal tissues, often resulting in sig nificant discomfort and posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. It is the third most frequent dental emergency, representing 7–14% of all dental emergencies, which can be iatrogenic in nature, and was also incorporated into the latest 2017 classification of periodontal abscesses. This case report highlights a rare presentation of a periodontal abscess caused by iatrogenic factors following surgical extraction of a third molar.

Case Report: A 28-year-old female presented with a three-week history of persistent purulent discharge from the distal aspect of the lower right second molar, two years post-surgical extraction. Clinical examination revealed an 8 mm periodontal pocket with associated purulent discharge but no associated swelling. Radiographic findings confirmed a localized bony defect distal to the mo lar. Exploratory open-flap surgery identified a cortical bone sequestrum with associated granulation tissue, which was removed, followed by debridement and primary closure of the flap. The patient achieved complete resolution of symptoms with satisfactory healing on follow-up.

Conclusion:This case report emphasizes that periodontal abscesses may develop following surgical extractions, presenting notable challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Effective management of such rare cases requires timely and accurate diagnosis and elimina tion of the underlying etiologic factors.

Keywords: Periodontal Abscess; Iatrogenic; Exploratory Open-Flap; Debridement

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Citation

Citation: Olarinmoye EO., et al. “Iatrogenic Induced Periodontal Abscess: A Diagnostic and Treatment Dilemma. - A Case Report". Acta Scientific Dental Sciences 9.11 (2025): 73-78.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Olarinmoye EO., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.