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

Rinse your mouth with warm water, avoid chewing on the affected side, take over-the-counter pain relief if you need it, and contact an emergency dentist. Keep any pieces of the tooth if you find them. Applying a cold compress outside the cheek helps control swelling while you arrange the appointment.

Yes. A broken or cracked tooth should be treated as an emergency even when the pain seems manageable, because the crack gives bacteria a path into the inner layers of the tooth. Infection can develop days or weeks later, and a tooth that could have been repaired simply may then need a root canal.

The repair depends on how much tooth is missing and whether the nerve is exposed. Small chips are often smoothed or restored with bonding, larger fractures usually need a crown, and a break that reaches the nerve may require root canal treatment first. Teeth broken below the gum line sometimes cannot be saved.

Waiting is risky. Even a small chip leaves rough edges that can cut the tongue and expose dentin, which makes the tooth sensitive and more prone to decay. Getting it looked at promptly usually means a simpler and less expensive repair than dealing with the damage or infection that develops later.