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Case Report | Dentistry | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 560 - 564 | India
Chronic Traumatic Buccal Ulcer Secondary to a Buccally Displaced Maxillary Third Molar: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Abstract: Traumatic ulcers are among the most common ulcerative lesions of the oral cavity and usually result from persistent mechanical irritation caused by sharp cusps, fractured restorations, or ill-fitting prostheses. However, ulceration secondary to a buccally displaced maxillary third molar is rarely reported and may clinically resemble an oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) or early oral squamous cell carcinoma, posing a diagnostic challenge. We report the case of a 32-year-old man who presented with a painful, non-healing ulcer on the left buccal mucosa of one week's duration. Clinical examination revealed a solitary oval ulcer measuring approximately 1.5 ? 1.0 cm, covered by yellowish-white slough with surrounding erythema, located directly opposite a buccally displaced left maxillary third molar (tooth 28) that caused repeated friction during mastication. Considering the patient's history of smokeless tobacco use, oral squamous cell carcinoma and other chronic ulcerative lesions were included in the differential diagnosis. A provisional diagnosis of chronic traumatic ulcer was established, and the offending tooth was extracted, followed by symptomatic management and close clinical follow-up. Significant healing was observed within one week, with complete resolution of the lesion, confirming the traumatic etiology and eliminating the need for biopsy. This case highlights the importance of careful clinical examination, identification and elimination of local traumatic factors, and timely follow-up, while emphasizing that ulcers persisting beyond two weeks after removal of the irritant require histopathological evaluation to exclude malignancy and other chronic ulcerative disorders.
Keywords: Traumatic ulcer, buccal mucosa, maxillary third molar, buccally displaced tooth, chronic oral ulcer
How to Cite?: Dr. Saraswathi Gopal K, Dr. Thaneja R, "Chronic Traumatic Buccal Ulcer Secondary to a Buccally Displaced Maxillary Third Molar: A Case Report and Review of the Literature", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 560-564, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26706233527, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26706233527