Management of an Accidental Ingestion of a Manual Screwdriver in Implant Dentistry: A Case Report

Abstract Ingestion of foreign bodies in dentistry represents an uncommon but possible event and can be life-threatening. An 82-year-old patient presented at our attention for an implant-supported rehabilitation of the maxillary arch. During the placement of the fixed prosthesis, the manual screwdriver was swallowed by the patient. From the moment of the accident, the patient did not develop any symptoms and was monitored for the following days. The instrument was not recovered within 3 days, thus a series of consecutive abdominal X-rays were performed revealing that the screwdriver was located at the level of ileocecal valve with no signs of progression. The screwdriver was removed with colonoscopy under sedation. During this treatment, a polyp was discovered and excised revealing a tubulovillous adenoma depicting low-grade dysplasia. To prevent such accidents, screwdrivers in implant dentistry should be secured with ligatures, or replaced with longer torque control wrenches.