Pneumomediastinum Following a Routine Dental Filling in an Adolescent: A Rare Pediatric Case Report
Neumomediastino tras un empaste dental rutinario en un adolescente: un caso clínico pediátrico poco frecuente
Şeyma Dilek , Ahu Bayar, Furkan Çolak, Ethem İlhan, Şükran Duman, Hüseyin Dağ
Abstract
Pneumomediastinum is defined as the presence of free air within the mediastinal cavity and most commonly occurs as a result of spontaneous alveolar rupture or thoracic trauma. Iatrogenic pneumomediastinum secondary to dental procedures is exceedingly rare, particularly in the pediatric population. High-speed air-turbine dental drills may introduce pressurized air into disrupted dentoalveolar tissues, enabling air to dissect along cervical fascial planes and track into the mediastinum through the submandibular and retropharyngeal spaces. In this report, we present a rare case of pneumomediastinum developing after a routine dental filling in an adolescent patient.
Keywords
Resumen
El neumomediastino se define como la presencia de aire libre en la cavidad mediastínica y suele producirse como consecuencia de una ruptura alveolar espontánea o un traumatismo torácico. El neumomediastino iatrogénico secundario a procedimientos dentales es extremadamente raro, sobre todo en la población pediátrica. Los taladros dentales de turbina de aire de alta velocidad pueden introducir aire a presión en los tejidos dentoalveolares dañados, lo que permite que el aire se disemine a lo largo de los planos fasciales cervicales y se introduzca en el mediastino a través de los espacios submandibular y retrofaríngeo. En este informe, presentamos un caso raro de neumomediastino que se desarrolló tras un empaste dental rutinario en un paciente adolescente.
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References
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Submitted date:
02/25/2026
Reviewed date:
05/04/2026
Accepted date:
05/19/2026
Publication date:
05/20/2026
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