Expecting the unexpected: Identification and nonsurgical endodontic management of foreign body inside the root canal space postdental trauma

Dental trauma in the young age group may lead to exposed pulp and root canal space, particularly in anterior teeth. Children often present with habits of pricking their teeth using pins, needles, nails or metal screws as a part of their growing phase to explore the surroundings around them using their tactile sensation or sometimes to remove the food particles lodged in between their teeth. However, these act as a foreign material and can get impacted accidentally in the root canal space because of the larger pulp chamber and root canal space, eventually becoming the potential source of infection, which often leads to pain or swelling or both with the due course of time. These foreign objects are generally discovered as a part of routine radiographic examination. This article presents two case reports illustrating the identification and nonsurgical removal of foreign body, followed by completion of endodontic therapy and esthetic rehabilitation postdental trauma with a combined follow-up of 47 months.