I went to an awesome party last night, but I woke up without a tooth. Do I see an emergency dentist?
Ben A. – San Jose, CA
Ben,
It sounds like quite the party. I’m not sure an emergency dentist will do you much good at this point. It will depend on two things:
- Do you have the tooth?
- How long has it been since the tooth was knocked out.
Generally, you need to get to the dentist within 30 minutes to have a decent chance of saving it. After that, the chances drop considerably.
What you’ll likely be looking at is tooth replacement. The ideal replacement is a dental implant, but they can be expensive. There are also things like dental bridges that are less money.
Speak to your dentist. He or she will give you all your options.
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