Ingestion of a dislodged dental structure generally poses minimal risk to the individual. The human digestive system is equipped to process hard substances, and a tooth, primarily composed of calcium phosphate, is no exception. Following ingestion, the object travels through the esophagus and into the stomach.
Gastric acids within the stomach initiate the breakdown process. While complete dissolution is unlikely, the acids weaken the tooth’s structure. Subsequently, the partially digested object proceeds through the small intestine, where further enzymatic action occurs. Nutrients, if any, are absorbed during this phase. The remaining, undigested material then moves into the large intestine.