The Earth's atmosphere is mainly made up of nitrogen, with oxygen and other gases also present. In the lower layers, water vapor is abundant and plays a key role, along with carbon dioxide and pollutants. A 72-year-old man visited the emergency room due to coughing up blood and difficulty swallowing. During his initial visit, doctors found no abnormalities and sent him home with a prescription for antibiotics. However, he returned two days later in a more severe condition. After examining his throat, performing a chest X-ray, and running blood tests, doctors found nothing serious and diagnosed him with a lower respiratory tract infection. He was given antibiotics, corticosteroids, and a mouth rinse, but his symptoms persisted. Two days later, he returned to the emergency room, still coughing up blood, struggling to swallow, and needing oxygen to breathe. A metal plate covering his vocal cords was discovered. After additional X-rays, doctors considered the possibility of pneumonia caused by inhaling a foreign object. The patient was referred to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) department for further tests. No abnormalities were found in the pharynx or lymph nodes, but a thin, flexible tube inserted through the nose revealed a metal plate covering the patient's vocal cords. It was his denture, which had become lodged in his larynx. The patient admitted to losing his denture during a general surgery hospitalization eight days earlier. "This denture was composed of a metal plate and three incisors," states the doctors' report. They deduced that the man likely inhaled the denture during the operation he had undergone a few days earlier under general anesthesia for the removal of a benign tumor on his abdominal wall. The doctors emphasized that this case highlights the need for greater vigilance. "It is essential to note if patients wear a denture and to monitor their position during procedures," they wrote. "The presence of any dental prosthesis must be clearly documented before and after any procedure, and all members of the operating room team must be aware of the perioperative protocols concerning them," said Dr. Harriet Cunniffe, co-author of the report published by the university hospital where the patient was treated (James Paget of Great Yarmouth). Dr. Cunniffe also expressed regret that the doctors who treated the patient during his first emergency room visit did not pay more attention to his difficulty swallowing. A lateral X-ray showed the denture stuck in the patient's throat. Fortunately, the denture could be removed with tweezers. However, the patient's health did not immediately improve after the object was removed. He had to continue treatment for pneumonia and was hospitalized four times because he was still coughing up blood. The bleeding was so severe that the man had to undergo two surgical procedures and receive blood transfusions. This case of denture inhalation is not unique, but it remains rare. A 2016 study covering 15 years recorded 91 distinct incidents of denture ingestion or inhalation across 28 countries. In France, the removal of removable dental prostheses is mandatory before entering the operating room, just like the removal of jewelry, piercings, glasses, or nail polish. The French Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care (SFAR) reminds medical professionals of the significant risks associated with muscle relaxation and tracheal intubation during general anesthesia: "if it is not removed, the denture can be dislodged, broken, swallowed, or moved into the airways, causing serious obstruction or asphyxiation (inhalation)."