What's left in the cleft? a rare complication following displacement of dental impression material into a palatal cleft

Discoveries of foreign bodies lodged in the nose, palate and maxillary sinuses have been well documented. A rare, iatrogenic cause is displacement of dental impression material which, if left undetected at these sites, may lead to acute respiratory obstruction or chronic problems, such as nasal discharge and chronic sinusitis. This article reports the case of acute complications following displacement of dental impression material into a palatal cleft, discusses immediate surgical management, and considers restorative techniques that should be adopted to prevent such complications in patients with cleft palates. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Impression-taking in patients with cleft palate carries significant risks and appropriate referral to a multidisciplinary team is appropiate in order to avoid potentially life-threatening complications.