Treatment imprudence leading to missed tooth fragment

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.

Tooth fragment embedded in the lower lip for 10 months following dentoalveolar trauma: A case report with literature review

Traumatic injuries to maxillary anterior teeth are a common finding in children because of falls while playing. Sequelae of trauma to dental hard tissue include broken, lost, aspirated and swallowed teeth. One additional hazard is the embedding of fractured tooth fragments in the soft tissues, particularly in the lip. A 10-year-old male patient complained of pain in the lower lip. There was a history of trauma to the upper anterior tooth 10 months previously. Clinical examination showed scarring and discoloration over the lower lip, and the presence of a hard mass was felt on palpation. Intraoral examination revealed an Ellis and Davey class II fracture of number 11. A radiograph of the lip was taken, which showed a radiopaque structure similar to the shape of the missing tooth fragment. Under local anesthesia, the tooth fragment was removed successfully, and the class II fracture was restored with composite. Therefore, proper clinical and complete radiographic examination of both hard and soft tissues following dental trauma is essential to rule out such occurrences.