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Broken or chipped

Broken or Chipped a Tooth

How a broken tooth is repaired depends on how much broke, whether the nerve is exposed, and whether the tooth still has enough structure to hold a restoration. A small chip and a split tooth are different problems.

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Right now
Rinse gently with warm water. Save any pieces in a clean container. If there is a sharp edge, dental wax or sugarless gum can protect your tongue and cheek temporarily. Avoid chewing on that side and call us — a broken tooth is usually easier to save early.
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What repair usually depends on

How much is missing
A small enamel chip is often smoothed or bonded. A large loss usually needs a crown or onlay to hold the tooth together.
Whether the nerve is exposed
A pink or bleeding centre changes the plan and the urgency.
Where the break is
Front teeth are usually restored for appearance and function; back teeth carry chewing load and often need full coverage.
What is left to build on
Restorations need sound tooth structure to bond to. This is the factor patients least expect.
Why it broke
A worn or grinding pattern, a large old filling, or decay underneath changes what will hold up.

What we can explain here — and what needs an exam

A page can inform you. It cannot examine you. Here is the honest line.

We can explain online
The usual repair options and how they differ
Why a big filling is sometimes the wrong answer
That saving pieces can help in some front-tooth cases
What a same-day urgent visit involves
Determined after an exam
Whether the tooth is restorable
Whether the nerve is involved
Whether bonding, an onlay, or a crown is appropriate
Whether the tooth has a crack that extends below the gum

Get it looked at before it breaks further

A protected tooth is easier to restore than one that has fractured a second time. Call for a same-day assessment.

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Related
ToothacheCan this tooth be saved?Crown or filling?Restorative dentistry

General information reviewed by Mankirat Gill, DDS · August 2026. This page does not replace an in-person examination. If you have severe pain, spreading facial swelling, or trouble breathing or swallowing, call us or seek emergency care now.