Foreign Object Entrapment in Pulp Space of Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and A Series of Three Cases

Apoorva Goswami, Nancy Solomon, Darshana Subburam, Shankar Paulindraraj, Trophimus Gnanabagyan Jayakaran, Kalpana Harikrishna

Published Online: Aug 7, 2026 DOI DOI 10.12982/OSR.2026.035

Objectives: To systematically review paediatric case reports documenting foreign body entrapment within the pulp space of primary and permanent teeth in children under 16 years of age and to supplement the review with three additional clinical cases.

Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar from database inception to April 2025. The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024594531). Case reports and case series in English describing foreign objects lodged within the pulp chamber or root canal in children under 16 years were included. Data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted independently using the JBI and CARE guidelines.

Results: Thirty-one studies reporting 37 cases were included. Most patients were males (81%), and the mean age was 10.9 years. A total of 41 teeth were affected, including 14 primary (34.15%) and 27 permanent teeth (65.85%). Twenty different foreign objects were identified, with stapler pins being the most common. Management varied by dentition: extraction was more frequently performed in primary teeth, whereas conservative retrieval using endodontic files and tweezers was preferred in permanent teeth when feasible.

Conclusions: Foreign body entrapment in the pulp space is often associated with untreated caries and self-inserted objects for pain relief. Prompt clinical and radiographic assessment can facilitate early detection and prevent complications. Increased parental awareness and timely dental care are essential to prevent such behaviours.

primary tooth foreign object foreign object retrieval permanent tooth pulp chamber

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Goswami A, Solomon N, Subburam D, Paulindraraj S, Jayakaran TG, Harikrishna K. Foreign Object Entrapment in Pulp Space of Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and A Series of Three Cases: Systematic reviews. Oral Sci Rep [Internet]. 2026 Aug 07 [cited 2026 Aug 08];47(3):340-351. Available from: https://www.dent.cmu.ac.th/cmdj/frontend/web/?r=site/viewarticle&id=559

Goswami, A., Solomon, N., Subburam, D., Paulindraraj, S., Jayakaran, TG. & Harikrishna, K. (2026). Foreign Object Entrapment in Pulp Space of Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and A Series of Three Cases. Oral Sci Rep, 47(3), 340-351. Retrieved from: https://www.dent.cmu.ac.th/cmdj/frontend/web/?r=site/viewarticle&id=559

Goswami, A., Nancy Solomon,Darshana Subburam,Shankar Paulindraraj,Trophimus Gnanabagyan Jayakaran and Kalpana Harikrishna. 2026. "Foreign Object Entrapment in Pulp Space of Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and A Series of Three Cases." Oral Sci Rep, 47(3), 340-351. https://www.dent.cmu.ac.th/cmdj/frontend/web/?r=site/viewarticle&id=559

Goswami, A. et al. 2026. 'Foreign Object Entrapment in Pulp Space of Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and A Series of Three Cases', Oral Sci Rep, 47(3), 340-351. Retrieved from https://www.dent.cmu.ac.th/cmdj/frontend/web/?r=site/viewarticle&id=559

Goswami, A., Solomon, N., Subburam, D., Paulindraraj, S., Jayakaran, TG. and Harikrishna, K. "Foreign Object Entrapment in Pulp Space of Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and A Series of Three Cases", Oral Sci Rep, vol.47, no. 3, pp. 340-351, Aug. 2026.

Goswami, A., Solomon, N., Subburam, D., et al. "Foreign Object Entrapment in Pulp Space of Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and A Series of Three Cases." Oral Sci Rep, vol.47, no. 3, Aug. 2026, pp. 340-351, https://www.dent.cmu.ac.th/cmdj/frontend/web/?r=site/viewarticle&id=559