Authors: Ahmad I et al.
Cureus 17(10): e95628, October 2025. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.95628
This report describes a five-year-old boy who sustained an avulsed and ingested lower central incisor following adenotonsillectomy under general anesthesia. The missing tooth was not noticed until the postoperative recovery period, when the child’s caregiver observed it. Imaging confirmed ingestion rather than aspiration, and no intervention was required. The case emphasizes that while preoperative dental assessments are routine, post-extubation oral inspections are often neglected—despite traumatic dental injury being one of the most frequent anesthesia-related complications in children.
The authors advocate that every pediatric airway case include both pre-intubation and post-extubation dental evaluations. Postoperative checks should focus on anterior teeth for missing or newly mobile teeth and signs of gingival trauma. Early identification allows immediate management, prevents aspiration or ingestion complications, and mitigates medico-legal exposure.
What You Should Know
Children are at high risk for dental injury during airway manipulation due to primary tooth mobility and narrow anatomy. Incorporating structured post-extubation dental screening—alongside preoperative checks—can greatly improve patient safety and reduce unrecognized perioperative trauma.
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