To discuss a rare case of ectopic intranasal eruption of a tooth presenting as chronic rhinosinusitis focusing on the cause of the delayed diagnosis and emphasizing the role of otorhinolaryngologists in the management of this disease entity.

Design: Case Report

Setting: Tertiary Government Training Hospital

Patient: One

A 25-year-old, partially edentulous woman initially presented with a four-year history of foul-smelling right nasal discharge accompanied by nasal congestion, nasal pain, and epistaxis. Several general physicians prescribed unrecalled antibiotics and pain medications which provided only temporary relief of the symptoms. Due to the persistence of the foul-smelling discharge which was recalcitrant to medications, culture and sensitivity testing at our institution revealed moderate growth of pseudomonas aeruginosa and computed tomography scans of the paranasal sinuses showed a right intranasal tooth, thickening of the inferior turbinate and septal deviation to the right. Following endoscopic removal of the intranasal tooth and septoplasty, there was resolution of symptoms and no complications.

Ectopic intranasal eruption of tooth has not yet been reported in the Philippines. Delays in diagnosing and starting proper management can lead to morbidity and serious complications such as development of antibiotic resistance. A high index of suspicion by an ENT-HNS physician with thorough nasal physical examination could have aided in the early diagnosis and management of the intranasal tooth.