Abstract
Accidental ingestion or inhalation of foreign bodies has been widely documented, including incidents which occur whilst undertaking dental treatment. Most ingested objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) spontaneously, but approximately 10%–20% need to be removed endoscopically and 1% require surgery. This case reports a complication arising from the accidental loss of an archwire fragment during maxillary archwire placement. It describes the immediate and subsequent management, including the use of radiographs to track the passage of the fragment through the gastro-intestinal tract. This case stresses the vigilance that dentists must take to prevent inhalation or ingestion of foreign bodies and the consequences of time-delays when management decisions are needed.
Highlights
Accidental foreign body aspiration and/or ingestion are well-described phenomena, respected for their serious health risks, with ingestion occurring more frequently than aspiration [1,2]
Most ingested objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) spontaneously, but approximately 10%–20% need to be removed endoscopically and 1%
A literature review was carried out using the PubMed database to search for case reports relating to ingestion or aspiration of foreign bodies of orthodontic origin
Summary
Accidental foreign body aspiration and/or ingestion are well-described phenomena, respected for their serious health risks, with ingestion occurring more frequently than aspiration [1,2]. The incidence of aspiration or ingestion of foreign bodies of dental origin varies considerably in the literature [1,3]. The incidence of foreign body ingestion or inhalation of dental origin is more common in adults than children [1,3]. A literature review was carried out using the PubMed database to search for case reports relating to ingestion or aspiration of foreign bodies of orthodontic origin. Inclusion criteria were that the papers must be published in English and report on a case of ingestion or inhalation of a foreign body of orthodontic origin. This case reports a complication arising from the accidental loss of an archwire fragment during time-dependent radiological investigative procedures. Maxillary archwire placement and the importance of time-delays when making decisions based on time-dependent radiological investigative procedures
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