Is it dangerous to swallow a piece of a partial denture?

Depends: The size, material and shape could make a difference. Have a dentist examine the prosthesis to try to determine what actually was ingested. Monitoring stools may be suggested as well as an abdominal xray/scan to visualize any foreign object.

Could be!: Any time any object is swallowed that is not a food or drink item, the likelihood of some type of problem can follow. If you did swallow a piece of a denture, you may need to have an x-ray of your digestive system to know where the piece is, its size and the possibility of it causing some other intestinal damage issue. Please see an er doctor to be sure.

Usually not: Dangerous. Many things pass thru GI tract without injury, even things like razor blades and open safety pins. If you have any abnormal areas of narrowing in your GI tract, it is possible that your swallowed denture can get caught in it, depending on size. It should pass in your stool in 2 or 3 days. Take extra fiber to protect your intestinal lining and promote motility.

Potentially: If there are sharp wires/edges that could penetrate stomach/intestinal wall, or if the piece is too large to pass thru the pyloric sphincter (ring of muscle at end of stomach), the piece may need to be removed endoscopically. Radiographs (x-rays) may be used to locate position. See pcp or GI specialist. Also potential for piece to enter trachea & cause choking. See doc!

Potentially...: If there was a clasp or wire on the part that was swallowed, it may be best to have an x-ray done to make sure it all passed through. The concern would be that the partial may get "hung up" somewhere within the digestive tract and cause problems.

No: Your digestive tract will handle this easily and eventually it will pass in the stool. You can decided what to do with it if that happens. It will do no harm in passage.