Tooth fragments lodged in the lower lip after traumatic dental injury: a case report

Be Qui Vive: Unravel the Mystery of Undiagnosed for Better Prognosis

Foreign bodies may access the oral cavity by trauma or iatrogenically. Iatrogenic foreign bodies that are frequently encountered include amalgam, obturation materials, shattered equipment, needles, broken teeth, and so on. Impaction of a tooth or bone fragment in the soft tissues is one type of dental trauma. When foreign bodies are found in the teeth, it's a highly grave scenario that requires prompt diagnosis. Thorough case histories, clinical assessments, and radiographic analyses are required to draw conclusions regarding the type, dimensions, location, and challenge of the foreign body retrieval. Due to the well-known tendency of children to put foreign objects in their mouths, it is more frequently observed in them. From time to time, children get strange items lodged in their teeth, which they are afraid to tell their parents about. These foreign objects might store possible infections, which could eventually result in a painful condition. This paper discusses the presence of unusual foreign bodies-a broken pencil and tooth fragment-and their management.

How to cite this article

Kaul B, Gulbar S, Gupta A, et al. Be Qui Vive: Unravel the Mystery of Undiagnosed for Better Prognosis. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(4):501-509.

Complications Arising from Dental Trauma Incurred from Falls Involving Geriatric Patients: A Case Report

Elderly patients have a high incidence of falls that result in facial injuries. Many cases present with dental crown fractures and soft-tissue lacerations. The initial diagnosis is especially important in this type of dental trauma, since an initial error can result in the failure to establish the correct treatment from the very beginning, worsening the prognosis, which, in the worst case, can compromise the teeth affected by the trauma. Case report: We present the case of a patient, a 79-year-old woman, who suffered an accidental fall. The patient was examined by a dentist in the emergency room. She was diagnosed with a simple crown fracture of the right upper central incisor and right upper lateral incisor without any pulpal involvement and with laceration of the lower lip. Months later, she had an episode of inflammation in the lower lip, and she developed edema and pain. An X-ray of the lower lip revealed a radiopaque mass compatible with a fragment of dental tissue due to the inclusion of remnants of the dental tissue resulting from the previous accident fall. Conclusions: The population of geriatric patients is steadily increasing in our society, and a higher frequency of falls has been observed in this age group, affecting the maxillofacial region, with consequent dental trauma on many occasions. Therefore, as professionals, we must pay special attention to the prevention and treatment of this problem, insisting on the importance of routine investigation in the emergency visit for dental trauma, which includes a meticulous examination of the soft tissues accompanied by a radiographic examination, when the inclusion of foreign bodies is suspected.

Treatment imprudence leading to missed tooth fragment

Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) represent one of the most common oral health problems in children and adolescents. Dental trauma requires a special consideration when it accompanies soft tissue lacerations. Tooth fragments occasionally penetrate into soft tissues and may cause severe complications. This article describes the case of a 12-year-old girl with a fractured tooth fragment embedded in the lower lip for 4 months, which went unnoticed at her primary health centre. This report highlights the importance of proper radiographic diagnosis along with clinical examination after trauma in order to prevent any future complications.

Tooth embedded in tongue following firearm trauma: report of two cases

Injuries caused by projectiles from firearms involve diverse patterns of dentoalveolar trauma due to the different types of wound and extent of tissue damage. This article reports two cases in which tooth fragments were embedded in the tongue following aggression from a firearm projectile in the facial region. Radiographs confirmed the presence of foreign bodies, which were surgically removed under local anesthesia. When dentoalveolar trauma occurs in facial injuries, both hard and soft tissues must be carefully examined to avoid overlooking embedded tooth fragments not located immediately in the soft tissue.