Accidental Swallowing of Orthodontic Partial Archwire

Occasionally, during orthodontic treatment, orthodontic appliances or parts of orthodontic appliances can compromise the airway or the gastroinstestinal tract and consequently can create a serious medical problems. The dental literature reports objects that were swallowed by patients, such as dental prostheses, endodontic instruments, fragments of dental restorative materials and others dental objects, such as toothpick and toothbrush. 

The aspiration or ingestion of orthodontics appliances is less commonhave been reported an expansion appliance key, an orthodontic bracket, a lower spring retaine , a fragment of fractured Twin-block appliance and an archwire segment during orthodontic adjustment. The medical complications depends on the size, shape and flexibility of the object, some occurrences present minimal danger while others have the potential to be lethal. Many dental patients are treated in the supine position increasing the risk of accidental aspiration or swallowing of foreign objects, in addition, orthodontic wire can break and orthodontic brackets can debond after consultation, allowing the ingestion of the materials. Read more.............