Management of Foreign Body Ingestion during Implant Surgery: A Case Report

Abstract

Various types of foreign-body swallowing accidents have been reported during dental procedures. We describe a case of ingestion of a foreign body during implant surgery and propose a management protocol for foreign body ingestion in dental clinics. A 64-year-old man was referred for rehabilitation with dental implants in the partially edentulous lower jaw. During implant surgery, the patient accidentally swallowed the mount extension. Radiological examination revealed a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract. In this case report, a patient who ingested a nonmagnetic and non-sharp foreign body expelled it without intervention. The foreign body was observed in a different position in the gastrointestinal tract 1 week later. Two weeks after swallowing, radiography revealed that the foreign body was observed to have been completely excreted. When a swallowing accident occurs during a dental procedure, it stops immediately and helps the patient expel it him/herself. It is important to determine the location of the foreign body by using primary radiography. In the case of ingestion, a nonmagnetic and non-sharp foreign body may be excreted within two weeks without any intervention.