Dd swallowed the a section of wire from her brace

[Burnshersmurfs]

To cut a longish story short, the orthodontist is short-staffed and there have been a series of issues with getting appointments.
The wire in her brace came loose at the back and was hurting her. I had to really push to get an appointment, and they referred her to a partner clinic. A couple of days later it popped out of the bracket again, but wasn't painful, so I gave in when they would only give an appt 2 weeks later. I did raise concerns quite forcefully over a series of conversations, however.
The wire obviously broke off while she was eating, and she swallowed it with her food. After a long evening at A&E and an X-ray, the doctors suggested that the wire most probably will stay in her stomach permanently, but that it could cause damage if it does shift, and that she was very lucky that it wasn't aspirated instead.
Practice manager is apologetic, and admits they didn't follow their own triage procedures. She also told me that they expect to have continuing issues with staffing for the next two months. It also looks like it is down to their head office whether they report the situation to the NHS formally.
If you were me, what would you do?

How long was the fractured part of the swallowed wire? Surely not the entire arch wire?

Yeah I'd be reporting them.
I'd be making a formal complaint in writing to as many people as I could find!
What happens when the next person is affected?
I hope your daughter is ok.

Thanks- dd is fine, but a bit bemused and tired from all the fuss and waiting at hospital. I'm a bit gutted, as she already has a medical issue resulting from a birth defect, and I'm stressed that it might affect any treatment or checkup in the future (can you have an mri scan with metal lodged in you?- I was a bit too stressed to ask all the right questions at the time) The section of wire was just over a centimetre, but seems to be broken into two bits in her stomach.

Your poor dd!yes i’d complain! I feel for the poor staff as it isn’t their fault, but this may kick head office up the bum!
I wouldnt worry in regards to scans, i have multiple body mods, they never care!
( i always end up leaving earrings in too)

Agree about the staff- I'm not after rolling heads or anything. I just want it to matter. That's reassuring about the mri.

I would follow it through with a complaint. I don’t believe you can get an mri with metal in your body as it’s magnetic so will attract the metal and potentially cause damage. On a second note I doubt fixing it would have helped much as the wire shouldn’t have sheared off the way it did. Sounds more like a defect with the wire as even unfastened it still should have been through the tube on the back tooth. Waiting lists here for an orthodontist is about 18months so I can see why they are struggling to fit everyone in

I think it's the length of time that it was left in her mouth unfixed which is the worry- with the benefit of hindsight, it seems such an obvious risk to have loose metal flapping around. It may well have been faulty wire, though.

I'd sue them.

would follow it through with a complaint. I don’t believe you can get an mri with metal in your body as it’s magnetic so will attract the metal and potentially cause damage.
I’ve never had any probs, ive had multiple diff scans in the last 2 years and i have diff mods in my wrists, chest, nape, etc all metal jewels, and they’ve never cared.

I think you should see a solicitor if this is a private practice. Especially as your daughter has existing health problems that this may impact - plus they have admitted fault. Probably the only way you can guarantee to be heard and make change

You need to make a formal complaint at the very least in case this does cause DD health issues in the future. She can complain herself as an adult but I think its often easier to do the complaint at the time. I would also see be seeing a solicitor.

Please be careful with MRI, I have an implant in the back of my eye socket and attempted to have an MRI. It was awful! I had to shout to tell them to stop because I could feel it pulling in my eye. Don't want to scare you but this could be a real risk.

My implant is approx 30 yrs old so maybe the type of metal used has changed which is why bodimods aren't affected?

I was told if ever the wire came loose to clip it with a pair of new nail clippers until I could be seen

It's happened a couple of times and I've waited for an appt despite discomfort but I would now press to be seen as the orthodontist told me it's classed as an emergency and I should be seen asap

Thanks for all the advice. I'll consult her doctor for definitive advice about future mri worries. I think I'm going to get a solicitor- does anyone have any advice about how to go about finding a decent one?

For MRIs it depends on if the metal is magnetic.The problem for OP is her DDS pieces of metal aren't fixed and if they are pulled by the MRI there is no way of knowing if damage is caused or not.

I am interested to read this as today, DD was told by her orthodontist that part of her wire was missing. We assumed she had swallowed it ,along with a missing bracket. I assumed it would just be pooed out. Is it really more serious?

I would complain about the appt though. We have been lucky enough to be squeezed in for a quick fix.

I'd double check, Olivo, and phone 111. I was told that it's classed by the NHS as a 'never event'- ie very serious. If it has been aspirated rather than swallowed, it can be dangerous (but please don't worry too much- if anything bad had happened, you'd know it by now)

OH has a fragment of metal that flew off a machine into his stomach years ago, he cannot have an mri. Do check.