Broken Tooth Emergency: What to Do Before You See a Dentist

Rinse your mouth gently with warm water and save any pieces of the tooth you can find. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek to limit swelling, and use gauze with light pressure if the area is bleeding. Avoid chewing on that side and stay away from very hot or cold foods. Contact a dentist promptly, even if the pain is mild.

A small chip with no pain is usually urgent rather than an emergency, but it still needs to be seen, because a rough edge can cut the tongue and exposed dentin can decay. A break that causes bleeding, sharp pain, sensitivity, or exposes the inner part of the tooth is an emergency, since the nerve may be involved and the tooth can fracture further.

Often yes, depending on how far the fracture extends. A chip in the enamel can usually be repaired with bonding or a crown, and a break that reaches the nerve may still be saved with root canal treatment followed by a crown. A fracture that runs below the gum and into the root is harder to restore and may require extraction.

No. A break limited to the outer enamel may cause no pain at all, because that layer has no nerve endings. Pain, sensitivity to temperature, or discomfort when biting usually means the fracture has reached the dentin or the nerve. A painless break still needs attention, since the weakened tooth can crack further and bacteria can reach the inner tissue.