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Case Reports
. 2013 Jan;3(1):93-4.
doi: 10.4103/2231-0746.110076.

Burried broken extraction instrument fragment

S M Balaji  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Burried broken extraction instrument fragment

S M Balaji. Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2013 Jan.

Abstract

Despite adequate effort to perform tooth removal carefully, some accidents may happen when defective instruments are unknowingly used. This article reports of a non-symptomatic case of a retained fractured dental elevator tip during an uneventful extraction a decade earlier. Patient was not aware till routine radiographic examination revealed its presence. Use of three dimensional imaging techniques in this case is highlighted. Rarely, instruments breakage may occur during surgical procedures. It is duty of the dentists to check the surgical instrument for signs of breakage and be prepared to solve a possible emergency. Retained fragments should be carefully studied prior to attempt of removal.

Keywords: Cone beam computed tomography; elevator; foreign body; mandible; tooth extraction.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Orthopantomogram of the patient with tip in place, (b) 3D formatted image of the root tip from CBCT, (c) Axial View in CBCT. Note the horizontal split, (d) Clinical Photo. Note the blackish tissue, (e) The size of the elevator tip
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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