Dental Emergencies Supporting Your Practice

Electronic cigarette explosions involving the oral cavity

CDA Oasis December 20, 2016

Dr. Rebecca Harrison, private dentist in South Carolina, spoke with Dr. Chiraz Guessaier about a case she recently treated and published in the Journal of the American Dental Association: Electronic cigarette explosions involving the oral cavity (November 2016).

Highlights

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is a rapidly growing trend throughout the United States. E-cigarettes have been linked to the risk of causing explosion and fire.

Case Description

Data are limited on the associated health hazards of e-cigarette use, particularly long-term effects, and available information often presents conflicting conclusions. In addition, an e-cigarette explosion and fire can pose a unique treatment challenge to the dental care provider because the oral cavity may be affected heavily. In this particular case, the patient’s injuries included intraoral burns, luxation injuries, and alveolar fractures.

Conclusions and Practical Implications

This case report aims to help clinicians gain an increased knowledge about e-cigarette design, use, and risks; discuss the risk of spontaneous failure and explosion of e-cigarettes with patients; and understand the treatment challenges posed by an e-cigarette explosion.

: Initial appearance in the emergency department, with the patient displaying burns to the dorsal surface of the tongue, maxillary gingiva, and mucosa.

: Sagittal computed tomographic scan showing multiple alveolar fractures.

: Sagittal computed tomographic scan shows tooth no. 9 displaced from the socket.

: Appearance at follow-up in the dental center 3 days after the explosion. Tooth no. 9 is displaced 6 millimeters to the palate and extruded 4 mm.

: Periapical radiograph showing that tooth no. 7 is present and completely seated in the socket, and approximately 5 millimeters of root apex no. 8 remains.