Symptoms · broken or chipped tooth
I've broken or chipped a tooth. What should I do?
A small chip with no pain can usually wait a few days for an appointment. A larger break, a sharp edge, pain, or a crack you can see into the tooth should be seen today. Keep any broken piece in milk and call Y3 Smiles Dental in Broadmeadows on (03) 9022 4442.
How urgent is a broken tooth?
Go to hospital or call 000
- The break happened in a fall or accident and you hit your head, feel dizzy or were knocked out
- Your jaw is painful, swollen or your teeth don't close together properly
- A cut in your mouth or on your lip that won't stop bleeding
Call us today
- Pain, or sensitivity when you breathe in or drink
- A large piece is missing or you can see pink or red in the break
- A sharp edge that is cutting your tongue or cheek
- The tooth feels loose or has moved
Book the next available time
- A small chip on the edge with no pain or sensitivity
- Rough enamel you can feel with your tongue
What should you do straight after it breaks?
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water.
- Find any pieces and keep them in milk or saliva in a small sealed container.
- Stop bleeding by pressing a clean, damp cloth on the area for 10 minutes.
- Reduce swelling with a cold pack on the outside of your lip or cheek.
- Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax.
- Eat soft food and chew on the other side until it's repaired.
Why does it matter how deep the break goes?
A tooth has three main layers. A chip in the hard outer enamel usually doesn't hurt and is mainly a roughness or appearance problem. A break into the next layer, the dentine, tends to be sensitive and lets bacteria in more easily. If the break reaches the pulp, where the nerve and blood supply are, you may see a pink or red spot, and it often hurts. That's the one to get seen quickly, because the nerve can become infected.
Cracks can also run down towards the root where you can't see them. A tooth that hurts when you bite and release is a common sign of a crack.
How is a broken tooth repaired?
At Y3 Smiles Dental we check how much of the tooth is left, whether the nerve is involved, and look for hidden cracks, often with an x-ray. Then we explain the options:
- Smoothing a tiny chip so it isn't sharp.
- A tooth-coloured filling or bonding to rebuild a small to medium break.
- A crown to cover and protect a tooth that has lost a lot of structure.
- Root canal treatment first, if the break has exposed or damaged the nerve.
If it's urgent, we can often protect the tooth with a temporary repair on the day and plan the permanent fix. See how our emergency dentistry works.
Other questions people ask
Can a chipped tooth be fixed?
Usually, yes. Small chips are often smoothed or repaired with tooth-coloured filling material. Larger breaks may need a bigger filling, a crown or other treatment, depending on how much tooth is left and whether the nerve is affected.
Should I keep the broken piece?
Yes. Store it in milk or saliva in a small sealed container and bring it with you. Sometimes a clean fragment can be bonded back on.
My tooth broke but doesn't hurt. Is it okay to leave it?
No pain doesn't mean no problem. A broken tooth is weaker, can crack further, and can let decay in. Book in within a few days even if it feels fine.
Why did my tooth break while eating something soft?
Teeth with large old fillings, previous root canal treatment or hidden cracks can break under normal chewing. Grinding and clenching also weaken teeth over time, and a night splint is often what stops that going further.
Can I file down a sharp edge myself?
No. Cover it with sugar-free chewing gum or orthodontic wax from a pharmacy to protect your tongue and cheek, and let us smooth it properly.