International Journal of Dentistry Research 2018; 3(1): 3-5 DOI:10.31254/dentistry.2018.3102

Case Report

Accidental ingestion of mouth mirror head- Unforeseen experience in dental practice

Urvashi A Shetty¹ , Shonith Naik² , Audrey MD’Cruz³ , Sheetal Jayanth⁴ , Sahana Maben⁴

Urvashi A Shetty,Shonith Naik,Audrey MD’Cruz,Sheetal Jayanth,Sahana Maben

1. Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
2. Tutor, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte Deemed to be University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
3. Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte Deemed to be University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
4. Tutor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte Deemed to be University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 27th May, 2017 / Accepted: 23rd October, 2017 / Published : 30th April, 2018

Abstract

Iatrogenic accidents during routine clinical procedures are unpredictable and can occur at times regardless of all the possible precautions taken. Ingestion of foreign bodies has been worldwide health problem in all branches of dentistry since decade. Ingested objects during dental procedures could range from teeth, restorations, instruments, implant parts to gauze packs and impression materials. Most ingested objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) spontaneously, but at times need to be removed endoscopically and surgically. We report an unusual case of iatrogenic ingestion of the head of a mouth mirror in a 20year old male patient, which gets dislodged during the intraoral examination of the patient. Radiographic surveillance was done to track the passage of the head of the mouth mirror through the GIT which was later expelled in stool within 24 hours.