Ingestion and surgical retrieval of an endodontic file: a case report

Ingestions and aspirations of foreign bodies are rare, but do occasionally occur during dental treatment. Although reports exist, few include photos demonstrating the extensive surgical intervention that may be necessary to manage such events. Perhaps this lack of visualization, and associated lack...

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Main Authors: Devon Marta Ptak, Elinor Alon, Robert Bruce Amato, Julia Tassinari, Adrian Velasquez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Academy of Conservative Dentistry 2023-11-01
Series:Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.rde.ac/upload/pdf/rde-48-e32.pdf
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author Devon Marta Ptak
Elinor Alon
Robert Bruce Amato
Julia Tassinari
Adrian Velasquez
author_facet Devon Marta Ptak
Elinor Alon
Robert Bruce Amato
Julia Tassinari
Adrian Velasquez
author_sort Devon Marta Ptak
collection DOAJ
description Ingestions and aspirations of foreign bodies are rare, but do occasionally occur during dental treatment. Although reports exist, few include photos demonstrating the extensive surgical intervention that may be necessary to manage such events. Perhaps this lack of visualization, and associated lack of awareness, is one of the reasons some clinicians still provide non-surgical root canal therapy (NSRCT) without a rubber dam. This case report outlines the medical treatment of a 30-year-old male who initially presented to a general dentist’s office (not associated with the authors) for NSRCT of their mandibular right first molar. A rubber dam was not used for this procedure, during which the accidental ingestion of an endodontic K-file occurred. The patient was subsequently hospitalized for evaluation and treatment, consisting of numerous imaging studies, endoscopic evaluation, and surgical removal of the file from his small intestine. The ingestion of foreign bodies, and the associated complications, can be reduced through the routine use of a rubber dam, which is considered the standard of care for NSRCT. This case graphically illustrates the potential consequences associated with deviating from the standard of care and should remind clinicians that a rubber dam is necessary for all cases of NSRCT.
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language English
publishDate 2023-11-01
publisher Korean Academy of Conservative Dentistry
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series Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics
spelling doaj-art-d08a5fd3054c4698a3f090a8b44725d02025-08-20T03:31:10ZengKorean Academy of Conservative DentistryRestorative Dentistry & Endodontics2234-76582234-76662023-11-01484e3210.5395/rde.2023.48.e321075Ingestion and surgical retrieval of an endodontic file: a case reportDevon Marta Ptak0Elinor Alon1Robert Bruce Amato2Julia Tassinari3Adrian Velasquez4Department of Endodontics, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USADepartment of Endodontics, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USADepartment of Endodontics, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USABrown Surgical Associates, Inc., Newport, RI, USAWarren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USAIngestions and aspirations of foreign bodies are rare, but do occasionally occur during dental treatment. Although reports exist, few include photos demonstrating the extensive surgical intervention that may be necessary to manage such events. Perhaps this lack of visualization, and associated lack of awareness, is one of the reasons some clinicians still provide non-surgical root canal therapy (NSRCT) without a rubber dam. This case report outlines the medical treatment of a 30-year-old male who initially presented to a general dentist’s office (not associated with the authors) for NSRCT of their mandibular right first molar. A rubber dam was not used for this procedure, during which the accidental ingestion of an endodontic K-file occurred. The patient was subsequently hospitalized for evaluation and treatment, consisting of numerous imaging studies, endoscopic evaluation, and surgical removal of the file from his small intestine. The ingestion of foreign bodies, and the associated complications, can be reduced through the routine use of a rubber dam, which is considered the standard of care for NSRCT. This case graphically illustrates the potential consequences associated with deviating from the standard of care and should remind clinicians that a rubber dam is necessary for all cases of NSRCT.http://www.rde.ac/upload/pdf/rde-48-e32.pdfaccidental injuriesdiagnostic imagingendoscopyroot canal therapyrubber damssurgery
spellingShingle Devon Marta Ptak
Elinor Alon
Robert Bruce Amato
Julia Tassinari
Adrian Velasquez
Ingestion and surgical retrieval of an endodontic file: a case report
Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics
accidental injuries
diagnostic imaging
endoscopy
root canal therapy
rubber dams
surgery
title Ingestion and surgical retrieval of an endodontic file: a case report
title_full Ingestion and surgical retrieval of an endodontic file: a case report
title_fullStr Ingestion and surgical retrieval of an endodontic file: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Ingestion and surgical retrieval of an endodontic file: a case report
title_short Ingestion and surgical retrieval of an endodontic file: a case report
title_sort ingestion and surgical retrieval of an endodontic file a case report
topic accidental injuries
diagnostic imaging
endoscopy
root canal therapy
rubber dams
surgery
url http://www.rde.ac/upload/pdf/rde-48-e32.pdf
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