What to Do About a Broken Tooth
Mar 29, 2022
Key Takeaways
- A broken tooth can cause pain, sensitivity, or a sharp edge, but some fractures don’t hurt at all. A dentist should evaluate the damage even if you’re not experiencing pain.
- Until you can see a dentist, rinse gently, control any bleeding, use a cold compress for swelling, and avoid chewing on the damaged tooth.
- A small chip may not require immediate treatment, but severe pain, swelling, or a deep fracture can indicate a dental emergency.
- Dentists can often repair broken teeth. Depending on the damage, treatment may range from bonding or a crown to root canal treatment or extraction.
Feeling a piece of your tooth break while eating, noticing a sharp edge with your tongue, or suddenly seeing part of a tooth missing can be unsettling. Your first questions may be simple: How bad is it, can the tooth be saved, and how quickly do I need to see a dentist?
A broken tooth isn’t always as straightforward as it looks. A small chip may affect only the enamel, while a deeper fracture can involve the sensitive tissue inside the tooth. Knowing what to do after a break, which symptoms need urgent attention, and how dentists repair damaged teeth can help you feel more confident about your next steps.
What Should You Do Right After Breaking a Tooth?
If you’ve broken or chipped a tooth, your immediate priorities are to keep the area clean, manage any bleeding or discomfort, and protect the damaged tooth until a dentist can examine it. The following steps can help prevent additional irritation or injury.
1. Rinse Your Mouth Gently
Use warm water to rinse away debris around the damaged area. Avoid aggressive rinsing if the tooth or surrounding tissue is bleeding.
2. Control Bleeding and Swelling
If the injury has cut your cheek, lip, tongue, or gum, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze or a clean cloth. For swelling, place a cold pack wrapped in cloth against the outside of your face for short intervals.
3. Save Any Broken Tooth Fragments
If you can find the broken piece of tooth, bring it with you to the dentist. Depending on the injury, the fragment may provide useful information and, in some situations, may be reattached. Don’t attempt to glue the piece back yourself.
4. Protect the Broken Tooth While Eating
Choose softer foods and chew on the opposite side of your mouth. Hard, crunchy, or sticky foods can put additional pressure on the damaged tooth, while very hot or cold foods may increase sensitivity.
5. Manage Tooth Pain Safely
If you can normally take over-the-counter pain medication safely, follow the product directions. Do not place aspirin or another pain reliever directly against the tooth or gum tissue. Dental wax may also temporarily cover a sharp edge that is irritating your cheek or tongue.
6. Contact Your Dentist
Arrange a dental evaluation even if the broken tooth doesn’t hurt. These first-aid steps can help protect the area temporarily, but they cannot repair the fracture. Your dentist can determine how soon treatment is needed.
Is a Broken Tooth a Dental Emergency?
A broken tooth can be a dental emergency, depending on the severity of the damage and your symptoms. A small, painless chip may not require immediate treatment, but a deeper fracture, significant pain, or signs of infection may need urgent dental attention.
Signs You Need Prompt Dental Care
Contact a dentist promptly if you experience:
- Severe or persistent tooth pain
- Swelling around the tooth, gums, or face
- A large portion of the tooth missing
- A loose tooth following an injury
- Sharp pain when biting or chewing
- Strong or lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
- Fever or other signs of infection, particularly with facial swelling
- Bleeding that continues despite applying gentle pressure
For persistent dental discomfort, our toothache treatment services can help identify the cause and determine appropriate care. However, if a facial injury involves uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or another potentially serious medical injury, seek emergency medical care rather than relying only on a dental appointment.
How Severe Is a Broken Tooth?
Broken teeth range from minor enamel chips to fractures that reach the sensitive tissue inside the tooth. Different types of damage can cause different symptoms, but the appearance of a broken tooth doesn’t always reveal how deeply the fracture extends.
Keep in mind: A small crack can sometimes be more serious than a visibly larger chip. A dental examination, which may include X-rays and other tests, helps determine the extent of the damage and whether the tooth can be repaired.
Can a Broken Tooth Be Saved?
Often, yes. Whether a dentist can save a broken tooth depends on where it fractured, how much healthy tooth structure remains, and whether the damage affects the pulp or extends below the gumline. Even a tooth with substantial damage may be repairable if enough healthy structure remains to support a restoration.
A shallow chip may need only a relatively simple repair, while a deeper fracture may require additional protection or treatment inside the tooth. In some situations, a crack extends too far below the gumline or into the root for the tooth to be restored predictably.
The goal is to preserve your natural tooth whenever possible. A dentist can assess the damage and recommend a treatment that protects as much healthy tooth structure as practical.
Not Sure Whether Your Broken Tooth Can Be Saved?
Tell our team what happened and what symptoms you’re experiencing. Eagle Harbor Dental can evaluate the damage and help you understand your treatment options.
How Do Dentists Fix a Broken Tooth?
Dentists repair broken teeth using treatments such as bonding, fillings, veneers, crowns, and root canal therapy. The right option depends on the size, location, and depth of the fracture, as well as how much healthy tooth remains. Some repairs are relatively simple, while others require more extensive treatment.
Dental Bonding and Fillings for Chipped Teeth
Small chips can often be repaired with dental bonding, which uses tooth-colored composite resin to rebuild a missing area. Tooth-colored dental fillings may also restore minor to moderate damage, depending on the tooth’s location and the amount of structure missing. Very small enamel chips sometimes need only smoothing or polishing.
Dental Veneers for Cosmetic Tooth Damage
For selected chips or cosmetic damage involving a front tooth, your dentist may recommend dental veneers. These thin restorations cover the front surface of the tooth to improve its appearance. However, veneers aren’t appropriate for every crack or fracture, particularly when the tooth needs more structural support. Learn more about the available options through our cosmetic dentistry services.
Dental Crowns for Larger Tooth Fractures
When a larger portion of a tooth has fractured or the remaining structure is weak, a dental crown may provide additional protection. A crown covers the tooth, restoring its shape and helping it withstand normal biting and chewing forces.
Eagle Harbor Dental offers same-day dental crowns for eligible patients, which may allow some damaged teeth to be restored in a single appointment.
Root Canal Treatment for Deep Tooth Damage
If a fracture exposes or damages the pulp, the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels, root canal treatment may help preserve the tooth. During the procedure, the dentist removes the affected tissue, cleans and seals the inside of the tooth, and determines what restoration is needed afterward.
Tooth Extraction When a Broken Tooth Cannot Be Saved
Some fractures extend too far beneath the gumline or damage the roots so severely that the tooth cannot be restored. In these situations, an extraction may be necessary. Your dentist can explain whether replacing the tooth is recommended and discuss options such as a dental implant or bridge.
What Happens if You Wait to Fix a Broken Tooth?
A broken tooth won’t grow back together the way a broken bone can. While a small chip may remain relatively stable, some cracks and fractures can spread when the damaged tooth is exposed to repeated biting and chewing forces.
Delaying treatment can also leave damaged tooth structure exposed to bacteria and temperature changes. If the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, preserving the tooth may require more involved treatment, such as a root canal. In severe cases, a tooth that might once have been repairable may eventually need to be removed.
Why timing matters: Getting a broken tooth evaluated early may help prevent additional damage and give your dentist more options for preserving it.
FAQs About Broken Teeth
Can I Wait to See a Dentist If My Broken Tooth Doesn’t Hurt?
A painless broken tooth may still need treatment. Some chips affect only the enamel, while deeper cracks may cause few symptoms initially. A dental exam can determine the damage and whether treatment is urgent or can be scheduled routinely.
Can a Broken Tooth Heal on Its Own?
No. Tooth enamel and deeper tooth structure do not mend together like broken bone. Dental treatment may be needed to repair, protect, or restore the damaged tooth.
What If I Swallowed a Small Piece of My Tooth?
A small swallowed tooth fragment will often pass through the digestive tract without causing problems. However, if you experience choking, difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe abdominal symptoms, or suspect that you inhaled the fragment rather than swallowing it, seek urgent medical attention.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Broken Tooth?
The cost of repairing a broken tooth depends on the extent of the damage, the procedure required, and your dental insurance coverage. A small bonding repair will generally cost less than treatment involving a crown or root canal. After examining your tooth, Eagle Harbor Dental can explain the recommended treatment, expected fees, and applicable insurance benefits.
What Should I Do if My Child Breaks a Tooth?
If your child breaks a tooth, have them rinse gently with water, apply a cold compress for swelling, and save any broken fragments you can find. Contact a dentist promptly for guidance. If an entire permanent tooth has been knocked out, immediate dental attention is essential. A knocked-out baby tooth should not be placed back into the socket because doing so could damage the developing permanent tooth.
Will Dental Insurance Cover Broken-Tooth Treatment?
Dental insurance may cover some or all of the cost of repairing a broken tooth, depending on your plan and the treatment required. Eagle Harbor Dental can review your available benefits and explain your estimated out-of-pocket costs before treatment.
Get Help for a Broken or Chipped Tooth at Eagle Harbor Dental
You don’t need to know whether your broken tooth requires bonding, a crown, or root canal treatment before scheduling an appointment. The first step is finding out how much damage has occurred and which treatment options may help preserve your tooth.
If you’ve chipped, cracked, or broken a tooth, Eagle Harbor Dental is here to help. Our team can evaluate the damage, explain your options, and help you make an informed decision about your dental care.
Broken or Chipped a Tooth?
Tell us what happened and what symptoms you’re experiencing. Our team can help you take the next appropriate step.
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