Accidental aspiration of removable dental prosthesis in a patient with Creutzfeldt‐Jacob disease

Abstract

Accidents involving dental prostheses are unusual but relevant, which may result in complications in the upper respiratory airways and esophagus. A 47-yearold male patient with Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD), completely dependent on care, was reported by his family to have a partial obstruction and intraoral bleeding after swallowing his upper Removable Partial Denture (RPD). After difficulties in the endoscopy procedure, a surgical approach by exploratory cervicotomy to remove the prosthetic device was conducted, without postoperative complications. Considering individual impairments and the patients' advanced age, the removal of dental prostheses during sleep or for patients under intensive care is a preventive strategy to reduce comorbidities in patients with unstable health conditions.