Whether it happened while eating, playing sports, or from an accident, a broken tooth needs professional care. The severity determines the treatment, but even a small chip should be evaluated to prevent complications.
Minor Chip
A small chip that doesn’t cause pain may seem minor, but the rough edge can cut your tongue or cheek and the exposed area is vulnerable to decay. Dental bonding can repair this quickly.
Cracked Tooth
A crack that extends into the tooth can cause sharp pain when biting or releasing. If the crack reaches the nerve, you may need a root canal and crown to save the tooth.
Broken Cusp
When a piece of the chewing surface breaks off, the tooth may not hurt but is weakened. A same-day BruxZir® NOW zirconia crown, milled in-office on our Glidewell fastmill.io, can restore it to full strength in a single visit.
Severe Break Exposing the Nerve
If you can see pink or red tissue inside the tooth, the nerve is exposed. This is the most urgent type of break — call us immediately as the tooth needs treatment within hours.
What to Do Right Now
Take these steps immediately after breaking or chipping a tooth:
- Save any pieces — if you can find the broken piece, store it in milk or saliva. In some cases we can reattach it.
- Rinse your mouth gently — use warm water to clean the area. Don’t scrub or use force.
- Control bleeding — apply gentle pressure with a clean gauze pad for 10 minutes.
- Reduce swelling — apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek near the injury.
- Cover sharp edges — if the broken tooth has a sharp edge, cover it with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your tongue and cheek.
- Avoid chewing on that side — eat soft foods and chew on the opposite side until you see us.
Get Your Broken Tooth Fixed Today
Dr. Anantuni offers same-day broken tooth repair including dental bonding, same-day BruxZir® NOW zirconia crowns (milled in-office on our Glidewell fastmill.io), and emergency restorations. Call now and we’ll get you in today.
