complete embedment of a stainless-steel crown in the alveolar soft tissue: the first case report

Background: reports of foreign bodies in oral tissues are available in the literature; however, this is the first report of complete embedment of a stainless-steel crown (ssc) in the alveolar soft tissue.case report: upon radiographic evaluation of a 19-year-old male patient seeking orthodontic treatment with several missing teeth, an ssc of the primary right mandibular second molar entirely encompassed by soft tissue was observed. the patient had no pain or discomfort in the region. the overlying mucosa had no sign of inflammation except for a slight pallor, and adjacent teeth had tilted into the space of the corresponding absent tooth. the crown was removed with a crestal incision under the local anesthesia.conclusion: infraocclusion of deciduous teeth, especially those covered with sscs, should be strictly monitored clinically and radiographically as they can embed in soft tissue, cause severe bone defects, and complicate future treatments.