A denture swallowed. Case report

Swallowing and aspiration of dental foreign objects is often reported in the literature. Swallowing seems to be more common than aspiration, and is observed most often in the elderly. Too often the size and configuration of these objects compounds their impaction and removal. A 67-year-old man swallowed a unilateral removable partial denture which became lodged in his mid-oesophagus. The denture was located by radiographic examination of his chest and removal by a rigid oesophagoscopy was performed under general anaesthetic.