Author/Authors :
Canceill, Thibault Toulouse University Hospital (CHU de Toulouse) - Dental Faculty - Paul Sabatier University, France , Esclassan, Rémi Toulouse University Hospital (CHU de Toulouse) - Dental Faculty - Paul Sabatier University, France , Marty, Mathieu Toulouse University Hospital (CHU de Toulouse) - Dental Faculty - Paul Sabatier University, France , Valera, Marie-Cécile Toulouse University Hospital (CHU de Toulouse) - Dental Faculty - Paul Sabatier University, France , Trzaskawka-Moulis, Estelle Montpellier University Hospital - Dental Faculty, France , Noirrit-Esclassan, Emmanuelle Toulouse University Hospital (CHU de Toulouse) - Dental Faculty - Paul Sabatier University, France
Abstract :
Tooth inhalation remains a rare incident but it may occur during dental care, especially in children. We report here the case of a
four-year-old boy with Down syndrome who came to the hospital after a dental trauma. During the extraction procedure, he
aspired his maxillary incisor without presenting any signs of respiratory distress and was discharged by the surgical team, who
thought that he had swallowed the tooth. Three weeks later, he was admitted to the emergency service because of a pulmonary
infection. Two endoscopy interventions under general anesthesia were necessary to recover the foreign body inside the left lung.
Because of the multiple symptoms associated with the trisomy 21 syndrome (general hypotonia, impaired immunity, etc.),
practitioners should be very mindful of aspiration risks and complications during dental care. The systematic prescription of
lung radiography would prevent the onset of pulmonary infections and enable an earlier intervention.
