International Journal of Dentistry Research 2025; 10(3): 89-91 DOI:10.31254/dentistry.2025.10303

Case Report

Mini Molar Mishap: Management Following Accidental Ingestion of an Endodontic File in a 4-Year-Old Child- A Case Report

Moon Roy¹ , Roli Agrawal² , Sowmya NR³ , Manish AT⁴ , Soumya R Patra⁵

Moon Roy,Roli Agrawal,Sowmya NR,Manish AT,Soumya R Patra

1. PG Student, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Triveni Institute of Dental Sciences, Hospital and Research Center, Bilaspur- 495220, Chhattisgarh, India
2. Head of Department, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Triveni Institute of Dental Sciences, Hospital and Research Center, Bilaspur- 495220, Chhattisgarh, India
3. Senior Lecturer, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Triveni Institute of Dental Sciences, Hospital and Research Center, Bilaspur- 495220, Chhattisgarh, India
4. Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Triveni Institute of Dental Sciences, Hospital and Research Center, Bilaspur- 495220, Chhattisgarh, India
5. PG Student, Oral Medicine and Radiology, Triveni Institute of Dental Sciences, Hospital and Research Center, Bilaspur- 495220, Chhattisgarh, India

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 18th July, 2025 / Revised: 1st January, 1970 / Accepted: 25th October, 2025 / Published : 17th January, 2026

Abstract

Accidental aspiration and ingestion is a potential clinical complication commonly seen in all the field of dentistry. It is observed that ingestion is the most prevalent emergency during dental procedures and 80% of cases occurring in children. Early diagnosis of foreign bodies ingestion in a dental operatory and awareness of its signs and symptoms are very crucial. 80-90% of ingested foreign items will pass through the gastrointestinal tract uneventfully while 10%-20% may require endoscopic removal but only 1% or less may necessitate surgical intervention. A 4-years-old patient with his parents reported to the Department of pediatric & preventive Dentistry with the chief complaint of pain in primary mandibular left first molar tooth. On clinical examination, primary mandibular left first molar was carious and diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, so routine pulpectomy procedure was performed. During the procedure, an endodontic instrument (Pro Taper hand file, Dentsply) slipped from the operator's hand as the patient abruptly moved his head. Due to the uncooperative behavior of the child rubber dam placement during the procedure was difficult. An unsuccessful attemptation was done to retrieve the file. Then the patient was immediately transferred to a neighbouring medical emergency center for the further investigations. Antero-posterior chest & stomach radiographs confirmed the position of the file in the descending colon, and serial radiographs were used to monitor its transition and clearance through the gastrointestinal tract. Ingestion of dental instruments can be life threatening and should be managed cautiously, with early input from different specialist physicians for possible endoscopic retrieval, emergent laparotomy, or surgical intervention with various imaging studies.