Designing for Safety: Implications of a Fifteen Year Review of Swallowed and Aspirated Dentures

Samuel J. W. Kent; James MacKie; Tatiana V. Macfarlane

doi:10.5037/jomr.2016.7203

Designing for Safety: Implications of a Fifteen Year Review of Swallowed and Aspirated Dentures

Samuel J. W. Kent
, James MacKie
, Tatiana V. Macfarlane

University of Aberdeen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Objectives: Dentures are worn by around 20% of the population, yet if they become displaced they may enter thegastrointestinal or respiratory system, sometimes with grave consequences. The aim of this study was to review recentpublished literature in order to identify the epidemiology of patients and characteristics of swallowed and aspirated dentalprostheses, and propose strategies to minimise these risks.
Material and Methods: A fifteen year retrospective of published case series and case reports was carried out. Photographs,radiographs and descriptions of the dental prostheses were gathered, as well as the patient’s presenting complaint, theanatomical site where the denture was caught and the procedure required to remove the denture.
Results: Ninety one separate events of swallowed or aspirated dentures were identified from 83 case reports and series from28 countries. Average age was 55 years, and these were 74% male. Photographs were retrieved for 49 of these dentures. Claspswere present in 25 of the dentures. There was no significant difference between clasped and unclasped dentures for perforationrates, need for open surgery and spontaneously passed dentures.
Conclusions: We discuss the implications of this study regarding denture designs, specifically the importance of using aradiopaque acrylic, using clasps when required even if there is a risk of aspiration, advising patients to return if a dentureis loose or damaged, and finally that all patients who wear a denture are at risk of aspiration and swallowing events, andassociated morbidity and mortality

Original language	English
Article number	e3
Pages (from-to)	1-11
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research
Volume	7
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5037/jomr.2016.7203
Publication status	Published - 30 Jun 2016

Bibliographical note

The authors report no conflict of interest relating to this study. The authors would like to thank the Ear Nose and Throat department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for suggesting the review, and Miss Frances Parkinson for her help in organising the data.

Keywords

deglutition
denture design
dentures
dental prosthesis design
respiratory aspiration

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10.5037/jomr.2016.7203Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Designing for Safety: Implications of a Fifteen Year Review of Swallowed and Aspirated Dentures
© Kent SJW, Mackie J, Macfarlane TV. Published in the JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL RESEARCH (http://www.ejomr.org), 30 June 2016. This is an open-access article, first published in the JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL RESEARCH, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work and is properly cited. The copyright, license information and link to the original publication on (http://www.ejomr.org) must be included. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Final published version, 728 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Designing for Safety: Implications of a Fifteen Year Review of Swallowed and Aspirated Dentures",

abstract = "Objectives: Dentures are worn by around 20\% of the population, yet if they become displaced they may enter thegastrointestinal or respiratory system, sometimes with grave consequences. The aim of this study was to review recentpublished literature in order to identify the epidemiology of patients and characteristics of swallowed and aspirated dentalprostheses, and propose strategies to minimise these risks. Material and Methods: A fifteen year retrospective of published case series and case reports was carried out. Photographs,radiographs and descriptions of the dental prostheses were gathered, as well as the patient{\textquoteright}s presenting complaint, theanatomical site where the denture was caught and the procedure required to remove the denture. Results: Ninety one separate events of swallowed or aspirated dentures were identified from 83 case reports and series from28 countries. Average age was 55 years, and these were 74\% male. Photographs were retrieved for 49 of these dentures. Claspswere present in 25 of the dentures. There was no significant difference between clasped and unclasped dentures for perforationrates, need for open surgery and spontaneously passed dentures. Conclusions: We discuss the implications of this study regarding denture designs, specifically the importance of using aradiopaque acrylic, using clasps when required even if there is a risk of aspiration, advising patients to return if a dentureis loose or damaged, and finally that all patients who wear a denture are at risk of aspiration and swallowing events, andassociated morbidity and mortality",

keywords = "deglutition, denture design, dentures, dental prosthesis design, respiratory aspiration",

author = "Kent, \{Samuel J. W.\} and James MacKie and Macfarlane, \{Tatiana V.\}",

note = "The authors report no conflict of interest relating to this study. The authors would like to thank the Ear Nose and Throat department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for suggesting the review, and Miss Frances Parkinson for her help in organising the data.",

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AU - Kent, Samuel J. W.

AU - MacKie, James

AU - Macfarlane, Tatiana V.

N1 - The authors report no conflict of interest relating to this study. The authors would like to thank the Ear Nose and Throat department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for suggesting the review, and Miss Frances Parkinson for her help in organising the data.

PY - 2016/6/30

Y1 - 2016/6/30

N2 - Objectives: Dentures are worn by around 20% of the population, yet if they become displaced they may enter thegastrointestinal or respiratory system, sometimes with grave consequences. The aim of this study was to review recentpublished literature in order to identify the epidemiology of patients and characteristics of swallowed and aspirated dentalprostheses, and propose strategies to minimise these risks. Material and Methods: A fifteen year retrospective of published case series and case reports was carried out. Photographs,radiographs and descriptions of the dental prostheses were gathered, as well as the patient’s presenting complaint, theanatomical site where the denture was caught and the procedure required to remove the denture. Results: Ninety one separate events of swallowed or aspirated dentures were identified from 83 case reports and series from28 countries. Average age was 55 years, and these were 74% male. Photographs were retrieved for 49 of these dentures. Claspswere present in 25 of the dentures. There was no significant difference between clasped and unclasped dentures for perforationrates, need for open surgery and spontaneously passed dentures. Conclusions: We discuss the implications of this study regarding denture designs, specifically the importance of using aradiopaque acrylic, using clasps when required even if there is a risk of aspiration, advising patients to return if a dentureis loose or damaged, and finally that all patients who wear a denture are at risk of aspiration and swallowing events, andassociated morbidity and mortality

AB - Objectives: Dentures are worn by around 20% of the population, yet if they become displaced they may enter thegastrointestinal or respiratory system, sometimes with grave consequences. The aim of this study was to review recentpublished literature in order to identify the epidemiology of patients and characteristics of swallowed and aspirated dentalprostheses, and propose strategies to minimise these risks. Material and Methods: A fifteen year retrospective of published case series and case reports was carried out. Photographs,radiographs and descriptions of the dental prostheses were gathered, as well as the patient’s presenting complaint, theanatomical site where the denture was caught and the procedure required to remove the denture. Results: Ninety one separate events of swallowed or aspirated dentures were identified from 83 case reports and series from28 countries. Average age was 55 years, and these were 74% male. Photographs were retrieved for 49 of these dentures. Claspswere present in 25 of the dentures. There was no significant difference between clasped and unclasped dentures for perforationrates, need for open surgery and spontaneously passed dentures. Conclusions: We discuss the implications of this study regarding denture designs, specifically the importance of using aradiopaque acrylic, using clasps when required even if there is a risk of aspiration, advising patients to return if a dentureis loose or damaged, and finally that all patients who wear a denture are at risk of aspiration and swallowing events, andassociated morbidity and mortality

KW - deglutition

KW - denture design

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KW - dental prosthesis design

KW - respiratory aspiration

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DO - 10.5037/jomr.2016.7203

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JF - Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research

IS - 2

M1 - e3

ER -

Designing for Safety: Implications of a Fifteen Year Review of Swallowed and Aspirated Dentures

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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