Silent threat: A case on dental drill head aspiration
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Dentistry is a relatively safe medical field, but it carries the risk of rare yet potentially severe complications like accidental foreign body aspiration. While literature on patient safety in dentistry remains limited, this case underscores the importance of promptly recognizing and managing such incidents. A 76-year-old patient arrived at the emergency room with concerns of having ingested a dental drill head during a procedure. Despite lacking typical symptoms, imaging revealed a foreign body in the right airways, highlighting the necessity of advanced diagnostics even when signs are lacking. This case underscores the critical need for preventive measures and comprehensive diagnostic evaluation in dental practice to mitigate such risks and improve patient safety.
Source: Radiology Case Reports
Authors: Marco De Chiara, Ludovica Attanasio, Francesca Boccadifuoco, Alessandra Panico, Diego Sandro Giordano, Giuseppe Russo
Institution: University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"
Language: English
Topic: Foreign Body Medical Cases
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $600
OpenAlex ID: W4408251052