Jane C. Puskas' Dental Blog

When you hear the words “dental emergency,” what comes to mind? For most people, it’s probably an infection, broken tooth, or cavity. But for some people, their dental crises were a whole lot weirder. If you’re not squeamish and want some juicy dental dirt, grab your popcorn and read up on these weirder than weird oral health emergencies that prove that sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

In a case that seems too bizarre to be true, a patient once arrived at the dentist complaining of tooth and gum pain. Thinking they needed a root canal, their dentist began cleaning their tooth roots and gums, only to find a different kind of root: a plant root! In fact, the patient had several tomato seeds that had sprouted in the oral cavity. They were literally growing plants in their mouth!

Coming Unglued

One patient tried to DIY her oral health to disastrous results. Apparently, she decided to reattach a fallen crown by supergluing it back into place. Unfortunately, she not only put it on the wrong teeth, but she also got it everywhere including the roof of her mouth and her throat!

Take Me Out

An elderly patient gave her dentist quite a surprise when he realized that the reason her dentures were in such disrepair was that she had not been removing them at all! For proper care, you must remove them to clean them at least once a day, and you should always take them out and soak them overnight. Not doing this can cause them to warp, crack, and smell bad, and that’s exactly what happened to this poor patient!

Stuck Up

In one particularly terrible situation, a man decided to take matters into his own hands and drill his own tooth at home with a regular drill. Unfortunately, to make matters worse, he then got the bit stuck in his tooth and needed an urgent appointment with his dentist to remove it. Definitely do NOT try this at home!

Thankfully, while not every dental emergency will require gardening skills or removing tools from your teeth, your emergency dentist can still help save your smile in an urgent situation. If you are experiencing any kind of oral health related problem, don’t attempt to fix it yourself: contact your dentist as soon as possible for further instructions!

About Dr. Puskas

Dr. Jane C. Puskas has led an inspiring career in dentistry that began with graduating cum laude at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She has received awards from The American Society of Dentists for Children and the Grace Milliken masters in health policy and management from the Harvard School of Public Health in 1987, where she has served as a clinical assistant in the Department of Operative Dentistry and an instructor in the Department of Dental Care Administration.

Currently, she is an active member in the Pierre Fauchard Academy, American College of Dentists, and the International College of Dentists.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Puskas, please visit our website or call us today at 404-261-7488.

If you’re getting ready to celebrate Independence Day, chances are that you are working on ideas for a delicious spread. While hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, and soda have long been staples of the Fourth of July cookout, why not offer a few appetizers that are delicious and healthy for your teeth? Here are a few suggested hors d’oeuvres that make for a delicious and patriotic Independence Day without setting you up for dental emergencies later.

When you think of dental care providers, there’s a good chance you picture your dentist. After all, they come up with treatment plans to address your oral concerns and perform procedures to help you achieve and maintain a healthy smile. They usually don’t work alone, however, and are supported by a team of skilled hygienists, assistants, and other staff members.

Did you know that the second week of April is Dental Hygienist Week? That makes this the perfect time to show them your appreciation! Keep reading to learn about 3 good reasons to show extra gratitude to those who work so diligently to keep your grin in top condition.

Having a root canal procedure likely isn’t anyone’s favorite activity, but sometimes they’re necessary to preserve your smile and provide some much-needed pain relief. If you’ve recently learned that yours needs to be repeated, though, you may have some questions. Many patients in this scenario wonder why the same tooth needs to have the process repeated a second time and whether it’s truly necessary. If you’re curious, keep reading to learn more about it!

When individuals envision an attractive smile, they typically associate it with bright and white teeth. Various foods and beverages can cause discoloration, but undergoing professional teeth whitening can eliminate the stains they leave behind. Nevertheless, it’s important to steer clear of certain foods and drinks after whitening your smile. Continue reading to discover what to avoid and the recommended alternatives for maintaining a radiant smile.

If you enjoy crunching ice to stay cool on a hot day, it can cost you your pearly whites if you make it a habit. Not to mention, craving ice can also be a symptom of a nutritional deficiency that can affect your overall wellness. A desire to eat ice can be a sign of anemia. Whether you are low in iron or just savor the cool crunch, it can cause serious damage to your dental health. Here’s what you need to know to safeguard your smile from a dental emergency.

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Everyone is well aware of the impact that braces can have on how your smile looks, feels, and in how effective it is at chewing. They can do incredible work, but many people are turned off of the treatment by the idea of a mouth full of metal.

No one is more self-conscious about their appearance than celebrities, which is why they (and millions of others) often opt for Invisalign treatment to straighten their smiles. If you want to understand what this style of orthodontic treatment can do for people, you need only look at the massive names who have benefitted from what they have to offer. Here are just a few examples.

When it comes to keeping your teeth strong and maintaining good oral health, something as small as drinking through a straw can make a big change. Drinking water is always the best option, but sometimes the summer sun and social outings call for another kind of refreshing beverage. You can still enjoy your favorite drinks and be conscious about your dental health by using a straw.

What issues come to mind when thinking of a dental emergency? Oftentimes, people naturally think of a very dramatic event such as a knocked-out tooth or a sudden loose dental crown. However, some emergencies with your pearly whites are not quite so obvious. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any signs of something wrong with a tooth. For example, facial pain can be a major symptom of a dental problem. Read on to learn about three common dental issues that cause facial pain.

Porcelain veneers are thin shells that are used to cover up imperfections. From chips to discoloration, they are an easy and quick way to improve the look of your beam. Veneers have come a long way to become the popular treatment that we are familiar with today. Continue reading to learn about the history of porcelain veneers as well as how they’ve changed over the years.