A dental emergency can strike at any time and with no warning. Perhaps a person is playing a game of touch football on Thanksgiving and a family member decides to up the ante and a tackle comes into play, accidentally knocking out two front teeth. Or maybe on vacation in the tropics, someone decides to go deep-sea fishing, but upon climbing into the fishing boat, they slip on the dock and fall, chipping three of the front teeth. From misplaced fly balls to bagel seeds causing a painful bout of inflammation, there are all sorts of dental emergencies.

The five most common reasons for emergency dentist visits:

1. Lost tooth

Somehow a candidate for emergency care has managed to knock out a tooth. Whether it's the result of a sports injury or because of decay, when a tooth is lost, that person has become a candidate for emergency dental care. If the tooth is salvageable, then it can be reattached to the socket, but this must be done within an hour or two.

2. Chipped tooth

A chipped tooth is a universal dental emergency. Small chips can be created by food (nuts and chicken bones have sent many people to the dentist); nevertheless, it's usually some kind of injury or accident that causes a chip. While a person might be embarrassed to walk around with a chip in a front tooth, it is easily fixed with a crown, bond or veneer.

3. Broken tooth

A broken tooth is more serious than a chipped tooth. When a tooth breaks, it might be due to a tiny or hidden chip. Nevertheless, chances are the discomfort and pain could be more severe.

4. Something stuck

Getting a piece of food lodged in the wrong place can cause a dental emergency. If something gets stuck deep in a crevice, it can cause inflammation and pain.

5. Lost filling

The loss of a filling happens more frequently than a person thinks. When someone loses a filling, they need to receive emergency care. If this does not occur, further damage could incur to the tooth.

When someone loses a filling, they need to receive emergency care. If this does not occur, further damage could incur to the tooth.

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