Broken or chipped tooth: what to do and how it is repaired

A tooth can chip or break from biting something hard, a fall, an accident or an old filling that has worn down. A small chip may not hurt at all. A big break needs quick attention.

What to do first

1. Rinse your mouth gently with warm water.
2. If there is bleeding, press a clean cloth on the area.
3. Use a cold pack on the outside of the cheek if there is swelling.
4. Keep the broken piece, if you can find it. Put it in milk or a clean container and bring it. It is sometimes possible to stick it back.
5. If there is a sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek, you can cover it with a small piece of sugar-free chewing gum or dental wax until you see the dentist.
6. Chew on the other side, and avoid hot, cold and hard food on that tooth.

When to go the same day

• Strong pain, or pain that does not settle
• Bleeding from the middle of the tooth, or a pink or red spot that you can see in it
• A large piece has broken off
• A tooth that is loose or has moved
• Swelling of the gum or face, or a fever

When you can wait a day or two

A small chip with no pain and no sharp edge can wait for a normal appointment, but do not leave it for weeks. A rough edge can damage your tongue, and the broken part can let decay in.

How can a dentist repair it?

It depends on how much is broken and whether the nerve is affected.

• Smoothing a very small chip.
• A filling, which rebuilds the missing part. See dental fillings explained.
• A crown, when a large part is gone. See crowns after a root canal.
• Root canal treatment first, if the nerve has been damaged. See root canal treatment explained.
• Removing the tooth, if it has broken too far below the gum to be repaired.

Your dentist will examine the tooth, usually take an X-ray, and explain what suits your tooth.

Hidden cracks

Some cracks are hard to see. They cause a sharp pain when you bite and let go. See pain when you bite.

When to see a dentist

Come in soon after any break. Dental care is available at both our clinics, in Sayan and on Chhaprabhatha-Variyav Road. Use the booking button below to ask for an appointment.