During wisdom tooth extraction bur got broken and stuck

[Ashtek]

Had my lower wisdom teeth extracted yesterday , problem arose when the steel drill tip(bur) got stuck inside the jaw bone. Dentist tried to remove but was unable to do so
Doctor says to let it keep that way, if he tries to extract can lead to perm nerve damage



Will there be any complication in future due to the foreign body being stuck ? Any infections ?

Really scared

Also they showed me the xray but didnt hand them over , said will be handed on next visit

 

[Dr M]

Good day

Usually if there was a complication with a wisdom tooth extraction, and the extraction was initially performed by a normal general dentist, it is advisable to refer to an oral surgeon, which will then advise on how to proceed.
Because there is a foreign body left over, the body might " push it out " naturally after a few months, if healing proceeded normally. There is always a risk that it might not heal and lead to a post-op infection.
I assume the doctor prescribed you antibiotics?
If the drill-bit becomes dislodged, there is always a risk that you can swallow it as well and then it can perforated important anatomical structures, since it is sharp.
My advice would be to seek the advice of a specialist such as a maxillo-facial surgeon, since there are some risks which could lead to severe complications if not taken into account. The specialist will give better advice on what steps need to be followed.

 

[honestdoc]

It is hard to judge an image that is not yours. Could you provide your true pano? Where are you located? I find it strange that a board certified oral maxillofacial surgeon in the US would have difficulty with this. The surgical bur in the x-ray is too big and wide to use for teeth extraction. Most likely the area will not get infected like Dr. M mentioned as well as formation of granulation (scar) tissue. If it does get infected, the bone and tissue will get softer and make retrieving the object more predictable.

 

[Ashtek]

Good day

Usually if there was a complication with a wisdom tooth extraction, and the extraction was initially performed by a normal general dentist, it is advisable to refer to an oral surgeon, which will then advise on how to proceed.
Because there is a foreign body left over, the body might " push it out " naturally after a few months, if healing proceeded normally. There is always a risk that it might not heal and lead to a post-op infection.
I assume the doctor prescribed you antibiotics?
If the drill-bit becomes dislodged, there is always a risk that you can swallow it as well and then it can perforated important anatomical structures, since it is sharp.
My advice would be to seek the advice of a specialist such as a maxillo-facial surgeon, since there are some risks which could lead to severe complications if not taken into account. The specialist will give better advice on what steps need to be followed.

Thanks Dr M the doctor who treated me is indeed a oral and maxillofacial surgeon .Yes antibiotics painkillers nerve soothing medicine was provided

Now my issue the bur is tuck in jaw while the extraction took place and the doctor tried to take it out but said could do damage to the nerve hence stopped

This is the lower right molar , I have attached a xray (Not mine but looks exactly the same where the bur is stuck

My question is can it lead to a infection after few years ?

 

[Dr M]

Good day

The bur that is used, is a sterile bur. So in theory it should be clean, and if it remains in the position, and healing is normal, it could stay there without any problems. Or push itself out.
Follow the advice of the specialist, and go for your regular check-ups, where the position of the bur can be determined with a x-ray.
If you feel any pain in the area, or notice any swelling, it is important to go back to the specialist.
Sometimes the bur moves over a period of years, to such a position where it can be safely removed, without nerve damage.

 

[Dr M]

The foreign body i.e bur could be enclosed by a capsule of granulation tissue, and be left for years. There has been minimal reported cases like this. The important thing is regular follow-up, to observe the fragment and to prevent it from moving into other anatomical spaces.

 

[Ashtek]

The foreign body i.e bur could be enclosed by a capsule of granulation tissue, and be left for years. There has been minimal reported cases like this. The important thing is regular follow-up, to observe the fragment and to prevent it from moving into other anatomical spaces.

Thanks will keep this is mind

 

[Ashtek]

It is hard to judge an image that is not yours. Could you provide your true pano? Where are you located? I find it strange that a board certified oral maxillofacial surgeon in the US would have difficulty with this. The surgical bur in the x-ray is too big and wide to use for teeth extraction. Most likely the area will not get infected like Dr. M mentioned as well as formation of granulation (scar) tissue. If it does get infected, the bone and tissue will get softer and make retrieving the object more predictable.

Hey my xray comes next week when I visit the dentist again for stitch removal .
Btw any idea when the infection can occur ? I mean within a year or after 7-10 years ?
Thank you very much

Edit : - I am a US citizen on my assignment to India. The surgery was performed in India as I had a severe chance of infection . I will be stuck here till 2022.

 

[Ashtek]

Also as the stainless steel bur contains nickel can it lead to metal poisoning ?

 

[honestdoc]

Are you an engineer? You ask very good questions. When nickel is used in metal mixture, the irritating potential is usually gone. How you know you have an infection is swelling. If the infection has matured, the x-rays may show dark areas around the metal object. That dark area indicates softer/destroyed bone. The longer the object has been in the mouth, the less likely it will get infected.

 

[Ashtek]

Thanks doc will

Are you an engineer? You ask very good questions. When nickel is used in metal mixture, the irritating potential is usually gone. How you know you have an infection is swelling. If the infection has matured, the x-rays may show dark areas around the metal object. That dark area indicates softer/destroyed bone. The longer the object has been in the mouth, the less likely it will get infected.

Thank you very much for the detailed answer , will post the xray when I rec it .
No I am not a engineer I work as a analyst