Embedded toothbrush foreign body in cheek - report of an unusual case.

BACKGROUND

Toothbrush injuries are common in children, and those of impalement and embedded injuries are the more serious.

CASE REPORT

A five-year-old girl presented with a complaint of a swelling affecting the left side of her face and with difficulty in opening her mouth for the previous 15 days. She gave a history of a fall while brushing her teeth. A foreign body (head of a toothbrush) located adjacent to the mandibular ramus was identified with the help of a CT scan.

TREATMENT

The foreign body was located by surgical exploration and retrieved. An extra-oral sinus that was present was excised and the resulting defect was reconstructed using a Limberg flap.

FOLLOW-UP: Healing was uneventful during the follow-up period. After 18 months the child's mouth had completely healed although some extra-oral scarring was present.

CONCLUSION

When dealing with children reporting for evaluation following trauma while tooth brushing, a thorough evaluation is essential for embedded foreign bodies.