Swallowed objects in the dental practice: what to do?
Accidental aspiration or ingestion of foreign bodies in a dental setting is a rare occurrence. Taking preventive measures plays an important role. Ingestion is more common, but aspiration leads to complications in a larger number of cases. The most feared complications of ingestion and aspiration are bowel perforation and respiratory compromise, respectively. After taking initial measures to remove the object, adequate imaging is indicated. In cases of aspiration, a bronchoscopy is needed. In cases of ingestion, endoscopic intervention is only required if a large, sharp or irregularly shaped object is involved or if the patient displays symptoms that might indicate perforation. In other cases, conservative management using serial radiology and stool check-ups is sufficient. If after 7 days there is no evidence of the object having left the body, imaging is necessary, possibly supplemented with endoscopic or surgical removal.