Port Harcourt Medical Journal

ARTICLE
Year
: 2016  |  Volume : 10  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 36--39

Risk factors associated with accidental ingestion of dental prosthesis in a Nigerian tertiary hospital


PR Adobamen1, SA Okeigbemen2 
1 Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
2 Department Of Preventive Dentistry, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
P R Adobamen
Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. P. O. Box 6741, Benin City, Edo State
Nigeria

Background:  Ingestion of dental prosthesis is a challenging health problem that may result in severe and at times fatal complications.
Aim:  To identify risk factors that may lead to accidental ingestion of these dental prosthesis and suggest preventive strategies.
Methods:  This was a prospective observational study at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, between 1st January, 2009 and 31st December, 2010 of patients presenting with ingestion of dental prosthesis. The bio data and data relating to circumstances surrounding the ingestion of the dental prosthesis were obtained from the patients and analyzed manually.
Results:  During the study period, eight patents were see, seven male and one female. Their ages ranged from 35 to 85 years with an average of 61.13 years. All the dental prosthesis retrieved from patients in this study were unsecured. Most of the patients with impacted dental prosthesis did not have the habit of removing their denture before sleeping; eating or taking drugs orally, even-though the activity engaged in during ingestion of dental prosthesis in all the patients were during eating, drinking water or drugs. Only one of the patients ever went for check-up after the initial fitting of their denture.
Conclusion:  Removal of unsecured dental prosthesis before eating, drinking water or drugs will likely reduce the incidence of their ingestion in our environment.



How to cite this article:
Adobamen P R, Okeigbemen S A. Risk factors associated with accidental ingestion of dental prosthesis in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.Port Harcourt Med J 2016;10:36-39


How to cite this URL:
Adobamen P R, Okeigbemen S A. Risk factors associated with accidental ingestion of dental prosthesis in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Port Harcourt Med J [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];10:36-39
Available from: https://www.phmj.org/article.asp?issn=0795-3038;year=2016;volume=10;issue=1;spage=36;epage=39;aulast=Adobamen;type=0