3 Bizarre Stories of the Wildest Dental Emergencies

July 21, 2026

Woman with a shocked expression

Throbbing toothaches, cracked teeth, or a loose restoration are often what people think about when it comes to dental emergencies. While these are a few of the more common situations patients find themselves in, there are cases where someone presents a hard-to-forget story. Here are three tales from other offices that might have you thankful your scenarios aren’t out there.

A Growing Houseplant

The start of this patient’s visit was like many others. They were experiencing sharp pain in their tooth. Their dentist examined the structure and recommended a root canal. This treatment got started right away, but as the team was clearing out the typical buildup, they noticed something odd along the gumline. They found a tiny sprout pushing through this soft tissue. It ended up being a tomato seed that got lodged into the gums and grew.

The Waiting Game

A woman had a dental crown that came loose. She did the right thing and called her dentist to get it bonded back on. Thankfully, her restoration was still in great shape, so she simply had it placed. However, the shocking twist came after her appointment finished.

The mishap actually happened a few days prior. She placed her dental prosthetic on the counter, and it tumbled down to the floor. Her dog got to it before she could, so she had to wait for nature’s call before she could phone her provider.

Packed and Stuffed

A man rushed to his dentist after feeling unwell and got an examination done. It didn’t take long for the team to find the root of the problem. It turns out he had one of the worst mouth infections they’d ever encountered. The patient actually had a hole in his palate and packed it with tissue paper. He said he changed it weekly, but combined with the bacteria in his mouth, the idea wasn’t as sound.

While these stories are memorable, hopefully you don’t find yourself in any of them. The good news is that you can avoid dental emergencies by taking care of your smile. By brushing, flossing, and going to the dentist, you can keep your grin in great shape.

About the Practice

Even if you’re stressed about needing urgent dental care, our team at Holger Dental Group in Minneapolis is dedicated to giving you the treatment you need. Led by compassionate dentists, we are often able to see our patients in worrying scenarios the same day. That way, they can get relief and get back to their normal routine. If you have any questions, schedule an appointment or call our office at (612) 333-8988.