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Review
. 2015 Oct 22;4(4):407-13.
doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2015.10.008. eCollection 2015 Dec.

Swallowed dentures: Two cases and a review

Mahir Gachabayov  1 , Mubariz Isaev  2 , Lala Orujova  3 , Emin Isaev  2 , Evgeniy Yaskin  4 , Dmitriy Neronov  4
Affiliations
Review

Swallowed dentures: Two cases and a review

Mahir Gachabayov et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). .

Abstract

Introduction: Denture ingestion or aspiration is a problem requiring awareness of different specialists including dentists, surgeons, otolaryngologists, anesthesiologists etc. in terms of prevention, early diagnosis and adequate treatment. Complications of swallowed dentures include hollow viscus necrosis, perforation, penetration to neighbor organs leading to fistulae, bleeding and obstruction.

Presentation of cases: First case is a 54-year-old female who accidentally swallowed retractable one-tooth denture during fall about 22 h before admission and clinical manifestation of acute small bowel obstruction developed. The patient underwent laparotomy, enterotomy with retrieval of the foreign body. The second case is a 31-year-old male who accidentally ingested fixed one-tooth prosthesis while eating which impacted in the ileocaecal valve. During the preparation to colonoscopy the denture spontaneously passed out with stools.

Discussion: Denture ingestion is more common among patients with psychoneurologic deficit, alcohol and drug abusers. Among healthy and younger population denture ingestion is rare. Both reported patients are not elder. Thus dislodgement of removable or fixed dentures is another risk factor of denture ingestion. Most common site of denture impaction is esophagus; small bowel impaction is rare. Moreover, in most reported cases, small bowel impaction of ingested dentures leads to small bowel perforation. In our first case the complication of denture ingestion appeared to be bowel obstruction what is even rarer.

Conclusion: Fixed dentures can be accidentally ingested as well as removable dentures. Denture loosening leads to accidental denture ingestion. Patients with denture loosening should be recommended to visit dentist as soon as possible.

Keywords: Denture aspiration; Denture ingestion; Foreign bodies of gastrointestinal tract; Small bowel obstruction; Swallowed denture.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Plain abdominal X-ray: air/fluid levels and denture in left lower quadrant.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Ingested removable one-tooth denture (left mandibular M2).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a- Denture is in the stomach, b- Denture is in right iliac fossa, c- Denture is in right iliac fossa, d- Denture in right iliac fossa, dilatation of small bowel loops.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
CT scans showing denture impacted in ileocecal valve.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Ingested fixed one-tooth denture (right maxillary P1).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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