Aspiration of foreign bodies is extremely rare in adults, but it may occur during the course of dental treatment and become a serious problem for the patient. A case of a 77-year old man with chronic cough after dental treatment and unrecognised aspiration of an implant is presented. The implant remained unidentified for three years as an endobronchial foreign body of the lower lobe bronchus. A bronchoscopic removal failed and surgery was indicated for lobectomy of the right lower lobe because of chronic pneumonia. A review of prevention, signs and symptoms, management and documentation of the complications is presented.