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A dental emergency in Austin is not all that uncommon. Often times, it involves a toothache, broken tooth, or a tooth that has been knocked out entirely. However, those are nothing in comparison to some of the weirdest dental emergencies to date. Continue reading to learn more from your dentist in South Austin about some of the strangest dental emergencies that have taken place in modern day dentistry.

GREEN THUMB

A patient rushed to the dentist and complained of a toothache and discomfort. Upon an examination, the dentist ordered for a root canal and began the procedure with the hope of giving the patient some relief. During the procedure, the dentist spots some plaque and tartar that is not all that uncommon. But one thing he didn’t expect to find was seeds lodged deep into the gums with plants growing out of the cavity. It was later determined that the seeds came from a tomato.

ORAL MYIASIS

If you don’t think taking your child to the dentist is important, think again. A small boy began rubbing and expressing discomfort over his swollen mouth. His parents recognized that he needed dental attention and took him to the dentist. When he took a look inside, he found that the boy’s gums were full of hidden maggots.

HOLE IN PALATE

Certain issues can be treated at home. This is certainly not one of them. When a man discovered that he had a hole in his palate, he decided to take a DIY approach to combat it. He stuck wads of tissue into the hole as a makeshift prosthesis and changed the tissues once a week. This didn’t do any good for the man and he eventually ended up at the dental office with a serious mouth infection.

DIY CROWN PLACEMENT

It isn’t all that uncommon for a crown to become dislodged. However, if this happens to you, it is best that you make an appointment with your dentist. This isn’t what one patient did. Instead, she attempted to use superglue to place it back on. Not only is this a terrible idea, but she somehow managed to glue the wrong teeth together and got glue all over the roof of her mouth and her throat.

CALCULUS BRIDGE

Anybody can experience a buildup of plaque. However, if this is left for too long, it will eventually turn into tartar. One patient had this so badly that it had turned into a calculus bridge between the teeth and gums. He vigorously tried to remove it at home and after a few minutes, almost all of his teeth fell out.

UNEXPLAINED AMNESIA

A British man went to the dentist for a root canal back in 2005. The strange thing is that once he left, he was suffering from amnesia and couldn’t remember anything more than 90 minutes prior. After years of tests and studies done by psychiatrists and neurologists, no one has been able to figure out how this happened.

If these stories teach you anything, it should be that you shouldn’t wait to visit the dentist. Having your regular cleanings and checkups can prevent you from experiencing some painful and bizarre consequences.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jack Fan is an emergency dentist located in South Austin, TX. He earned his doctorate at New York University College of Dentistry and completed a year long General Practice Residency at Long Island Jewish Hospital. He still regularly attends continuing education courses to further his knowledge and stay updated on latest technological developments. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, Dr. Fan would be happy to help you. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (512) 361-4288.