Broken or Cracked Tooth
Emergency Care for Tooth Fractures and Chips
What Is a Broken or Cracked Tooth?
A broken, cracked, or chipped tooth can range from a minor cosmetic issue to a serious dental emergency. When a fracture exposes the nerve or pulp, it causes severe pain and requires immediate treatment. Cracks can also allow bacteria to enter, leading to infection.
Signs & Symptoms
- Visible chip, crack, or break in the tooth
- Sharp pain when biting or chewing
- Sensitivity to temperature changes
- Intermittent pain that comes and goes
- Swelling in the gum near the tooth
- Rough or jagged edge cutting your tongue or cheek
What To Do Right Now
- 1Rinse your mouth with warm water
- 2Apply gauze to any bleeding area for 10 minutes
- 3Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek for swelling
- 4Take ibuprofen for pain
- 5Save any broken tooth pieces in milk
- 6Call an emergency dentist — even small cracks can worsen quickly
What NOT To Do
- ✕Do NOT bite down on the broken tooth
- ✕Do NOT use the tooth to chew
- ✕Do NOT ignore it — cracks spread and can lead to tooth loss
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a broken tooth be fixed?
Yes, in most cases. Options include dental bonding (for small chips), a crown (for larger breaks), root canal + crown (if the nerve is exposed), or extraction if the tooth cannot be saved. The sooner you see a dentist, the more options you have.
Is a cracked tooth always visible?
No. Many cracks are invisible to the naked eye and even to X-rays. If you have pain when biting or releasing bite pressure, you may have a cracked tooth syndrome — a dentist can diagnose this with special tests.
What if I broke a tooth and there's no pain?
Even without pain, a broken tooth should be seen within 24 hours. The crack can deepen, bacteria can enter, and what starts as a painless chip can become a painful infection.
Same day if pain is present; within 24 hours for painless chips
Other Dental Emergencies
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