Radiographic study of dermal fillers in the facial area: A series of 3 cases

• Published in: Imaging science in dentistry Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 227 - 231
• Main Authors: Kwon, Young-Eun, An, Chang-Hyeon, Choi, Karp-Shik, Lee, Du-Hyeong, An, Seo-Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology 01.09.2018; 대한영상치의학회
• Subjects: Case Report; 치의학; Radiography, Panoramic; Dermal Fillers; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
• ISSN: 2233-7822; 2233-7830
• DOI: 10.5624/isd.2018.48.3.227

In recent years, as interest in maintaining beauty and a youthful appearance has grown, filler procedures such as soft tissue augmentation have become more popular. These fillers are sometimes seen as radiopaque shadows on radiographic images, either due to the fillers themselves or because of secondary reactions; such findings may present a diagnostic challenge to dentists. The present report describes 3 cases of dermal fillers observed in panoramic and cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images. All 3 elderly female patients had filler injected into their cheeks and chin area for cosmetic purposes decades ago. On panoramic images, multiple symmetric radiopacities were observed in the facial area; on CBCT, these calcifications were seen in the subcutaneous tissue in various shapes and with varying density. In conclusion, dentists should be aware of the imaging characteristics of dermal filler, and should be able to differentiate dermal filler from other pathological findings.