Dental X-Ray Reveals Unexpected Sinus Stowaway
A routine orthodontic visit turned into a surprising diagnostic discovery when an X-ray revealed a piece of metal lodged in a 13-year-old’s sinus. The culprit? A self-attempted nose piercing gone wrong.
Dentists and dental hygienists know that radiographs often reveal more than expected, but one Washington orthodontist encountered a particularly unusual finding, according to recent reporting in Newsweek. A 13-year-old girl, brought in by her mother for an orthodontic consultation, underwent routine panoramic imaging. To everyone’s surprise, the X-ray showed a small metallic object embedded in the sinus cavity.
Further questioning revealed the backstory: months earlier, the patient, eager for a nose piercing despite her mother’s refusal, attempted the procedure herself using an earring from a previous ear piercing. During the attempt, she accidentally inhaled the stud, which became lodged in her sinus. With no pain or symptoms, she kept the incident to herself, forgetting about it entirely until the orthodontic images brought it to light.
Following referral to an ear, nose, and throat specialist, the foreign object was safely extracted using long medical forceps, with no complications or discomfort. This case underscores the value of routine dental imaging in detecting asymptomatic issues, as well as the importance of thorough patient history taking. Click here to read more.
