Teeth are strong, but they are not indestructible. A bite on something hard, a fall, a sports injury or years of clenching can leave you with a chipped, cracked or broken tooth. What you do in the first hour matters, and so does knowing which kind of damage you are dealing with.
What to do right away
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water.
- Save any pieces of tooth you can find. Keep them in a small container of milk or your own saliva.
- Control bleeding by pressing clean gauze or a damp tea bag on the area for about 10 minutes.
- Reduce swelling with a cold compress on the outside of your cheek, 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off.
- Cover sharp edges with sugar-free gum or dental wax so they do not cut your tongue or cheek.
- Manage pain with over-the-counter pain relief, following the package directions.
- Avoid chewing on that side, and avoid very hot, cold or sugary food and drink.
- Call your dentist. Even a small chip should be checked.
If a tooth is knocked out completely
A knocked-out adult tooth is a true emergency, and time matters.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Do not scrub it or wrap it in tissue.
- If you can, gently push it back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it.
- If that is not possible, keep it in milk or tucked inside your cheek.
- See a dentist as quickly as possible, ideally within 30 to 60 minutes.
Do not try to put a knocked-out baby tooth back in. Call your dentist for advice.
Chip, crack or break? How to tell
Minor chip
A small piece of enamel is missing, often from a front tooth. It may feel sharp but usually does not hurt.
Craze lines
Very fine surface lines in the enamel, common in adults. They are usually cosmetic and harmless.
Cracked tooth
A crack runs deeper into the tooth. Classic signs are sharp pain when you bite down and, especially, when you release the bite, and sensitivity to cold. Cracks can be hard to see and may not show on X-rays.
Broken cusp
A corner of a back tooth breaks off, often around an old filling. It may feel rough but not always painful.
Split tooth
A crack that has divided the tooth into separate pieces. This is serious and often painful.
Vertical root fracture
A crack that starts in the root. There may be few symptoms until the gum around it becomes infected.
How a dentist repairs a damaged tooth
The right repair depends on how much tooth is missing and whether the nerve is involved.
| Damage | Common repair |
|---|---|
| Small chip | Smoothing and polishing, or tooth-coloured bonding |
| Larger chip on a front tooth | Bonding or a veneer |
| Broken cusp | A filling, onlay or crown |
| Cracked tooth | A crown to hold the tooth together, sometimes a root canal first |
| Crack into the nerve | Root canal, then a crown |
| Split tooth or root fracture | Sometimes part of the tooth can be saved; sometimes extraction is needed |
The earlier a crack is treated, the more likely the tooth can be saved. Cracks tend to grow over time.
When is it an emergency?
Call right away if you have:
- A knocked-out adult tooth
- Heavy bleeding that does not stop with pressure
- Severe pain
- A large piece of tooth broken off, or exposed pink or red tissue in the centre of the tooth
- Swelling of the face or jaw
How to protect your teeth
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sports
- Wear a night guard if you clench or grind
- Avoid chewing ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels and pens
- Do not use your teeth as tools to open packages or bottles
- Have large old fillings checked, as they can weaken the tooth around them
Emergency dental care in Calgary
New patients and emergencies are welcome at Vigée Dental. If you have chipped, cracked or broken a tooth, call us at (403) 292-0708. Learn more about our emergency dentistry and restorative dentistry, or book online for a non-urgent chip.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chipped tooth an emergency?
A small chip that does not hurt is not usually an emergency, but it should be checked within a few days. Pain, bleeding, a large break or exposed tissue inside the tooth need prompt care.
Can a cracked tooth heal on its own?
No. Enamel does not repair itself, and cracks often get larger over time. Early treatment improves the chance of saving the tooth.
Can a broken piece of tooth be reattached?
Sometimes. If you keep the fragment moist in milk or saliva and see a dentist quickly, it can occasionally be bonded back in place.
Why does my tooth hurt when I stop biting?
Pain on releasing a bite is a classic sign of a cracked tooth. Have it checked soon, before the crack spreads.