Grandfather Stunned, When X-Ray Shows Pellet Lodged for 41 Years
A 51 year old grandfather from Washington was shocked after visiting his dentist and discovering that he had a pellet lodged in his jaw.
Tommy Bennett’s X-ray photo showed an air gun pellet stuck in his jawbone and it is believed it has been stuck there for over 40 years. On seeing the image, Tommy remembered the accidental shooting, which took place when he was just 10 years old. However, he did not realise that the pellet was stuck until he went for X-rays to prepare for dental bridge treatment.
Tommy said that the lady carrying out the X-ray had asked if he had a stud earring in his ear and when he answered no she had sent him to a technician who inquired if he had ever been shot before.
When the technician asked the question, Tommy remembered back to when he was messing around with a friend at the age of 10. His friend had accidentally shot him with an air gun, aiming for his foot, landing the shot just under his eye, with Tommy never realising it had lodged in his jaw.
Tommy joked that he was always setting the alarms off when he went through security at airports and now he knows why. He has also shared the tale with his grandchildren, who think he is a hero and asked if he had been involved in the war. Doctors at Newcastle Dental Hospital have told him that he faces a complex operation to remove the object, as bone tissue has grown around the pellet.
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