Aspiration of an avulsed primary incisor. A case report

A 7-year-old girl had injured her maxillary primary incisors in a playground. One of the already-mobile incisors had been avulsed. The child who had a cough and breathing difficulties during sleep was diagnosed as suffering from upper respiratory infection and was treated with antibiotics. A few days later because her body temperature was elevated a chest radiograph was taken. The radiograph revealed an aspirated tooth in her right bronchus with atelectasis of the lower lobe. The tooth was removed by bronchoscopy. Dentists should suspect any tooth that has been avulsed and not found as possibly aspirated.