If you have ever experienced a dental emergency, you know just how stressful they can be. It is difficult to make quick decisions when you are experiencing a lot of pain. Common dental emergencies include toothaches, broken teeth, and knocked-out teeth. However, some of them get much stranger than your average abscessed tooth. Continue reading to learn more about some of the strangest dental emergencies and how they occurred.
Tomato Plant
One day, a patient rushed to their emergency dentist complaining of a toothache and discomfort. The dentist immediately ordered for a root canal in order to lessen the patient’s pain. When the dentist began the procedure, he wasn’t expecting to see seeds lodged deep into the gums with tiny plants growing out of the cavity. After discussing the issue with the patient, it was determined that these were tomato seeds that had begun to sprout in the gums.
Maggot Mouth
A couple noticed that their son began rubbing his mouth which had become swollen. They could tell that he was in pain, so they immediately took him to the dentist to have the area inspected. After taking a look in the child’s mouth, the dentist found that there with a whole bunch of maggots that had found their home in the child’s gums.
Super Glue Restorations
Most of us know that it isn’t a good idea to fix dental restorations by yourself, but there’s been at least one person who did not feel the same way. This patient tried to superglue her crown back onto her tooth after it had become dislodged. However, her precision wasn’t optimal. In the end, she had the wrong teeth stuck together and superglue adhered to the roof of her mouth and throat.
DIY Palate Repair
If you noticed a hole in your palate, your first reaction would probably be to see your doctor or dentist to have the issue look at. Not this patient! After he noticed a hole in his palate, he believed that the easiest solution would be to stuff it with wads of tissue and change them out about once a week. In the end, he ended up with one of the worst mouth infections in dental history!
Calculus Bridge
When teeth are neglected, plaque and tartar buildups can occur and become quite serious when they aren’t removed. Eventually, they can create a bridge between the teeth known as a ‘calculus bridge.’ One patient with this issue decided that enough was enough, so he began brushing vigorously in order to remove it. Turns out that this bridge was the only thing that was still holding many of his teeth into place. After just a few minutes, most of his teeth fell out!
A Root Canal to Remember
A root canal is a common procedure. If you have never had one, you probably know someone who has. A British man once went into the dental office in order to have a routine root canal in 2005. However, he has been unable to hold any memories for more than 90 minutes ever since. After many years, doctors are still unsure how this happened.
As you already gathered, most of these odd emergencies could have been avoided with proper oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist. By having issues treated early on, you can keep dental emergencies out of your future!
About the Author
Dr. Phillip Johnson earned his dental doctorate from the Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry where he was on the Dean’s List every year and graduated at the top 10% of his class. Currently, he is a proud member of the American Dental Association and Texas Dental Association. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, he would be happy to help. For more information or to schedule a visit at his office in Midlothian, visit his website or call (972) 723-3567.