A chipped or broken tooth can often be repaired. The right repair depends on how much of the tooth is missing and whether the nerve or root is involved. Get seen promptly if you have pain, swelling, bleeding that will not stop, a sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek, or a crack that looks deep. A painless small chip is less urgent, but it still needs an examination because some cracks cannot be seen in a mirror.
Breathing or swallowing difficulty, or a serious blow to the face or head, needs emergency medical care first. Call 911 or go to an emergency room, then deal with the tooth.
Which repair fits which kind of damage?
| What happened | Options a dentist may discuss |
|---|---|
| Small chip in the enamel, no pain | Smoothing the edge or bonding with tooth-colored resin. |
| Larger chip, or part of a filling has broken away | A new filling or bonding; an onlay or crown if a lot of the tooth is missing. |
| Crack running through the biting surface | A crown to hold the tooth together. If the nerve is affected, root canal treatment may come first. |
| Break that reaches the nerve: lingering pain with hot or cold, or a pink or red spot inside the tooth | Root canal treatment, usually followed by a crown. |
| Tooth split in two, or a fracture below the gum line | These teeth often cannot be saved. Extraction, then a replacement such as an implant, bridge or partial denture. |
This table describes possibilities, not a diagnosis. Only an examination and X-rays show how deep the damage goes. The Cleveland Clinic explains the main types of cracked teeth and why a crack that reaches the pulp can lead to infection.
What to do in the first hour
- Rinse gently with warm water. Do not scrub the area.
- Keep any piece you find. Put it in a clean container and bring it to the appointment. Whether it can be reused is the dentist’s decision.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek if the area is swollen or sore.
- Protect a sharp edge. Dental wax from a pharmacy, or a piece of sugar-free gum, can cover it until you are seen.
- Chew on the other side and avoid very hot, cold or sugary food.
- Call a dentist. Do not wait to see whether the pain settles.
Do not glue the tooth back together with household glue and do not file it down yourself. If the tooth was knocked out completely rather than broken, follow our knocked-out tooth first-aid guide instead.
Can it wait, or should you be seen today?
Ask to be seen today if the break is painful, bleeding, sharp, loose, or if the face is swelling. A tooth that broke around an old filling without pain is covered in our guide to a tooth that breaks around a filling. Even then, a prompt visit makes a simpler repair more likely than a long wait.
If pain is already the main problem, read what helps broken tooth pain and what recovery involves. For a quick overview of how emergencies are handled, see how a broken tooth is treated in an emergency.
What happens at the visit
The dentist asks how the tooth broke and what it feels like, examines it, and usually takes an X-ray. You are then told which options are realistic and what each involves. Some repairs, such as bonding or a filling, can be finished in one visit. A crown usually takes more than one visit, and a temporary solution may protect the tooth in between.
URBN Dental offers same-day emergency appointments at Houston-area locations. Whether your particular repair can be completed that day depends on the examination. Ask before you leave what the next step is, what it costs and what to avoid in the meantime.
Repair or extraction?
Saving the natural tooth is often preferred when enough healthy structure remains. It is not always possible. Ask your dentist what would be involved either way, including the replacement if the tooth cannot be kept. Our guides on whether a broken tooth can be saved and on root canal versus extraction explain the trade-offs. You can also read about emergency root canal treatment, crowns and fillings and emergency tooth extraction.
Cost and payment questions
The price depends on the repair, so ask for a written estimate after the exam. Our emergency dental cost guide lists questions worth asking. Ask the office about PPO insurance benefits, and look at financing options if cost is making you postpone care.
Lowering the chance of a repeat
Wear a mouthguard for contact sports and a night guard if a dentist finds that you grind your teeth. Do not chew ice, hard candy or pen caps. Have large old fillings and cracked teeth checked at routine visits, because a weakened tooth tends to break when you bite on something hard.
Get your broken tooth looked at
Read more about chipped and broken tooth care, then pick a Houston-area location and call to explain what happened. You can also book online for a non-urgent visit. If the tooth is painful, bleeding or swelling, call rather than waiting for an online reply.
Questions about chipped and broken teeth
Will a chipped tooth heal on its own?
No. Tooth enamel does not grow back, so a chip stays until it is repaired or smoothed. A tiny chip may only need polishing. Larger damage needs treatment before it breaks further.
Does every broken tooth need a crown?
No. A small chip may only need bonding, and a modest break may be filled. A crown is usually considered when a large part of the tooth is gone or a crack could spread when you chew.
The pain stopped. Do I still need to go?
Yes, book an exam. Pain can ease even when a crack or infection is progressing, and the dentist can only judge the damage by looking.
This article is general education and does not replace an examination. A dentist must assess the tooth before recommending treatment.
