Inverted and impacted maxillary and mandibular third molar: Unusual case reports with review of the literature

Abstract

Inversion has been defined as the malposition of a tooth in which the tooth is reversed and positioned upside down. Very few cases of inverted and impacted third molars have been reported in the literature. The most common location of such a third molar in the mandible is in the ascending ramus. In the maxilla, the teeth may be displaced as far as the floor of the orbit. Two cases of inverted and impacted third molars are described. They were conservatively managed without surgery. The two cases are reported because impaction with inversion of a molar tooth is not common.