Navigating intraoperative tooth loss during oral surgery under general anesthesia: radiographic localization and videolaryngoscopic retrieval of a supraglottic foreign body: a case report.

Dental dislodgement during oral and maxillofacial surgery is an uncommon, but potentially serious complication. We report a case of intraoperative tooth loss with asymptomatic supraglottic retention during oral surgery under general anesthesia. A 55-year-old man underwent bilateral maxillary endoscopic sinus surgery (MESS) under general anesthesia. A severely mobile mandibular tooth was missing during surgery, although the ventilation and hemodynamic parameters remained stable. As the patient showed no evidence of airway compromise and the location of the tooth was uncertain, radiographic localization was performed after completion of the procedure. Portable radiograph revealed a tooth-shaped foreign body in the laryngeal region. Subsequent videolaryngoscopic examination revealed a tooth lodged beneath the epiglottis and above the vocal cord. The tooth was successfully removed using Magill forceps and the patient recovered without any respiratory complications. This case highlights that a dislodged tooth may remain undetected in the supraglottic airway despite stable respiratory parameters. Radiographic localization, followed by targeted video laryngoscopic retrieval, has enabled successful management.