Incidental Radiographic Detection of a Metallic Foreign Body in the Furcation of a Primary Molar: A Case Report

A 10-year-old girl presented with pain in the lower right posterior region of the mouth for 5 days. Clinical examination revealed deep occlusal caries in tooth lower right second primary molar with pulpal perforation. Radiographic evaluation incidentally showed a coiled radiopaque foreign object suggestive of a stapler pin, in the furcal region, above the developing #45 tooth bud. The child admitted to habitual self-inserting of objects into the tooth to relieve food lodgement and discomfort. Extraction of the lower right second primary molar and retrieval of the foreign object were performed under local anesthesia, followed by antibiotics, analgesics, and tetanus prophylaxis. Healing was uneventful. This case highlights the importance of detailed history-taking and early identification of harmful oral habits and dental neglect in children.