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Embedded toothbrush foreign body in cheek - report of an unusual case
R Sathish1, S Suhas, G Gayathri
1Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sri Siddhartha Dental College, India. drsathish75@gmail.com
Background:
Toothbrush injuries are common in children, and those of impalement and embedded injuries are the more serious.
Case Report:
A five-year-old girl presented with a complaint of a swelling affecting the left side of her face and with difficulty in opening her mouth for the previous 15 days. She gave a history of a fall while brushing her teeth. A foreign body (head of a toothbrush) located adjacent to the mandibular ramus was identified with the help of a CT scan.
Treatment:
The foreign body was located by surgical exploration and retrieved. An extra-oral sinus that was present was excised and the resulting defect was reconstructed using a Limberg flap.
Follow-Up:
Healing was uneventful during the follow-up period. After 18 months the child's mouth had completely healed although some extra-oral scarring was present.
Conclusion:
When dealing with children reporting for evaluation following trauma while tooth brushing, a thorough evaluation is essential for embedded foreign bodies.
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