Abstract
Penetrating foreign bodies are almost always removed at or shortly after the time of the injury. In the present case, we report the discovery and removal of a piece of glass during a routine dental procedure. The foreign body was believed to have been from a traffic accident more than 20 years earlier. The patient was a 49-year-old man who was referred to our department for extraction of a tooth. Panoramic X-rays revealed a foreign body in his left chin. He had suffered facial injuries during a car accident more than 20 years earlier, but the details of his treatment for those injuries were unknown.
Alternatively, could this be:
Based on computed tomography and ultrasonography findings, the foreign body was suspected to be a piece of glass. Treatment was planned for removal of the foreign body under general anesthesia.
Since glass is sharp, if left unattended, it can damage surrounding tissues as it passes through the body due to forces such as body movement and external impacts. Therefore, upon discovery, treatment needs to be planned taking into consideration the clinical symptoms, size of the foreign body, and its location. Moreover, when extracting glass as a foreign body, care must be taken to avoid causing secondary complications.
