2019, issue 15

Open wide: the risks of swallowed or inhaled dental instruments

ByRupert Hoppenbrouwers

Published07 November 2019

It's rare for a patient to swallow or inhale something during treatment, but such incidents can lead to negligence claims and dental professionals should be aware of the risks.

After any serious adverse incident, it's important for you and your practice to reflect on what happened and the lessons learned, and to implement necessary changes.

Rupert Hoppenbrouwers

Senior dento-legal adviser

Rupert Hoppenbrouwers (BDS LDSRCS) was head of the DDU until his retirement at the end of 2015. He is a former general dental practitioner and was director of the School of Dental Hygiene at University College Hospital, London, from 1980 to 1986. He has lectured and written widely on risk management and dento-legal matters, has previously chaired the UK Dental Law and Ethics Forum, and has a particular interest in complex ethical and legal issues affecting dental members