Pulmonary aspiration of a metal casting: report of case.

The danger of ingestion or aspiration of a foreign body by a patient during dental treatment is always present. This article discusses prevention and management of this event. A case is presented in which aspiration of a dental casting into the tracheobronchial tree was not accompanied by symptoms suggestive of aspiration. The patient had minimal symptoms; after radiographic localization the object was removed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy with little discomfort to the patient. The absence of symptoms suggestive of aspiration does not exclude this possibility.