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Dental prostheses and the impacted swallowed foreign body
A J Parker1, M P Yardley, G O Owen
1Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Patients wearing dentures are not more likely to swallow foreign bodies requiring endoscopic removal. This study found no significant difference compared to individuals with natural teeth, debunking a common misconception.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Endoscopy
- Otolaryngology (ENT)
- Public Health and Epidemiology
Background:
- A prevalent notion suggests individuals with dental prostheses (false teeth) have a higher risk of impacted swallowed foreign bodies.
- This belief lacks robust empirical evidence and warrants investigation within clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between wearing dental prostheses and the occurrence of impacted swallowed foreign bodies.
- To compare the incidence of dental prostheses in patients with swallowed foreign bodies against the general population's age-related prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 45 patients who underwent endoscopic removal of impacted swallowed foreign bodies under general anesthesia.
- Data collection via questionnaire to determine the prevalence of dental prostheses (false teeth or natural dentition) in the study cohort.
- Comparison of prosthesis incidence in patients with the age-related incidence in the United Kingdom general population.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference was observed in the prevalence of dental prostheses between patients with impacted swallowed foreign bodies and the general UK population.
- The findings indicate that wearing false teeth does not increase the likelihood of presenting with a swallowed foreign body requiring medical intervention.
Conclusions:
- The common belief linking false teeth to a higher risk of impacted swallowed foreign bodies is not supported by this study's findings.
- Patients presenting with impacted swallowed foreign bodies are statistically no more likely to be wearing dental prostheses than the general population.