Ingested foreign bodies associated with orthodontic treatment: report of three cases and review of ingestion/aspiration incident management.

Foreign body ingestion/aspiration episodes are potential complications in all branches of dentistry. The handling of small orthodontic components requires particular care, especially where the patient is supine or semi-recumbent. Three cases of foreign body ingestion are presented, involving patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Once the foreign bodies had been located, all instances were treated using a combination of serial radiography and 'watchful waiting'. All patients remained asymptomatic during this period, although none of the foreign bodies were retrieved. No active intervention was deemed necessary, and the patients were able to resume their orthodontic treatment. The potential complications of ingestion/aspiration episodes are discussed and a management regime suggested.