a foreign object found in pulp chamber or root canal of a tooth is often diagnosed accidentally . it is commonly seen in children as they have the habit of placing foreign objects in the mouth . at times , these objects can get lodged in the pulp chamber or root canal of a tooth and can cause a potent focus of infection . complications can follow if these impacted foci of infection are not eliminated . in some cases , the tooth remains asymptomatic and the presence of the foreign body is revealed only during routine radiographic examination . so , their removal is necessary to re - negotiate the canal and complete the endodontic treatment successfully . clinical examination revealed a complicated crown fracture ( ellis class iii ) on upper right central incisor and an ellis class ii fracture on upper left central incisor [ figure 1a and b ] . he had negative history of pain , swelling , or pus discharge . on examination , ( a ) preoperative photograph  labial view , ( b)preoperative photograph  lingual view , ( c ) iopa of upper anterior region showing foreign body in the root canal of 11 , ( d ) stapler pin of dimension 9 mm retrieved from the root canal , ( e ) postoperative iopa of tooth 11 ( f ) postoperative photograph  labial view an intraoral periapical radiograph revealed the presence of a radio - opaque object ( foreign body ) inside the root canal of 11 , which resembled a bent stapler pin [ figure 1c ] . it was present at the junction of middle and cervical thirds of the root canal a thin , tapering , diamond fissure bur on an air rotor hand piece was used to slightly widen the orifice to facilitate access for instrumentation . an ultrasonic scaler was used to clear the debris from root canal orifice and also to facilitate loosening of the stapler pin . 20 h file was used to bypass and engage the foreign body . after a series of attempts , the object was moved coronally and pulled out with a mosquito forceps [ figure 1d ] . the canal was then irrigated with normal saline , which helped to remove the debris including small wooden pieces . obturation of the tooth was done with gutta - percha using lateral condensation technique [ figure 1e ] . a thin , tapering , diamond fissure bur on an air rotor hand piece was used to slightly widen the orifice to facilitate access for instrumentation . an ultrasonic scaler was used to clear the debris from root canal orifice and also to facilitate loosening of the stapler pin . 20 h file was used to bypass and engage the foreign body . after a series of attempts , the object was moved coronally and pulled out with a mosquito forceps [ figure 1d ] . the canal was then irrigated with normal saline , which helped to remove the debris including small wooden pieces . obturation of the tooth was done with gutta - percha using lateral condensation technique [ figure 1e ] . the discovery of foreign bodies in the teeth is a special situation , which is often diagnosed accidentally . root canals or pulp chamber of a tooth can be blocked by the presence of broken instruments , canal obturation materials , and in some cases , by foreign objects inserted by the patient himself . it can occur in patients undergoing root canal treatment in which canals have been left open for drainage or after trauma . the presence of foreign body prevents thorough instrumentation of root canal system and adversely affects the outcome of successful endodontic treatment . various objects have been reported to be lodged in the pulp chamber and root canal of teeth , such as pencil leads , darning needles , metal screws , beads , stapler pins , nails , pins , wooden tooth picks , tooth brush bristles , crayons , and pieces of other plastic and wooden pieces . actinomycosis following placement of piece of jewelry chain into a maxillary central incisor has been reported by goldstein . basically , the foreign objects lodged in root canal can be classified into metallic and non - metallic objects . because of their radio - opaque nature , the metallic objects can be readily identified from routine radiographs . mcauliffe summarized various radiographic methods to be followed to localize radio - opaque foreign objects , such as parallax views , vertex occlusal views , triangulation techniques , stereo radiography , and tomography . specialized radiographic techniques such as radiovisiography and 3d computerized axial tomography ( 3d cat ) scans can aid in the localization . hence , upon encountering resistance in a canal that was left open for a long period of time either after trauma or during endodontic treatment , it is recommended to take proper history and do careful instrumentation to prevent apical pushing of the object . orthograde removal of foreign objects from root canal is usually a significant challenge to the practitioners . detailed case history taking and clinical and radiographic evaluation are necessary to come to a conclusion about the nature , size , and location of the foreign body . complicated crown fractures should be managed promptly , and prolonged open drainage is avoided in children if the risks of foreign body impaction are to be minimized . there is a definite need for a proper classification of foreign bodies in and around the teeth and a treatment algorithm to be followed in such clinical situations .
the discovery of foreign bodies in the teeth is often diagnosed accidentally . 
 it is commonly seen in children . 
 these foreign objects may act as a potential source of infection and may later lead to a painful condition . 
 detailed case history , clinical and radiographic examinations are necessary to come to a conclusion about the nature , size , and location of the foreign body , and the difficulty involved in its retrieval . 
 this paper discusses the types of foreign objects found in and around the teeth and reports an unusual case of a stapler pin in the root canal of a tooth , its retrieval , and associated management of the involved teeth .