Emergency Dentistry
Broken Tooth Emergency: What to Do
Broke a tooth? Here's what to do right away for a broken or cracked tooth, how to manage broken tooth pain, why not to pull it yourself and how dentists fix it.
A broken tooth can happen in an instant — biting on an olive pit, a fall, a sports injury or an old filling finally giving way. Some breaks are small and painless; others expose the nerve and hurt a lot. Either way, what you do in the first few hours can make repair easier and protect the tooth.
What to do right away
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area.
- Save any broken pieces in a clean container with milk or saliva and bring them with you.
- Control bleeding by pressing a piece of clean gauze on the area for 10 minutes.
- Reduce swelling with a cold compress on the outside of your cheek.
- Manage pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever, following the label directions.
- Cover sharp edges with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your tongue and cheek.
- Call your dentist and describe what happened.
If a whole tooth has been knocked out, handle it by the crown (not the root), keep it moist and get to a dentist within 30–60 minutes for the best chance of saving it.
Broken tooth pain
Pain depends on how deep the break goes. Enamel chips often don't hurt. Breaks into the dentin cause sensitivity to cold, sweets and air. If the break reaches the nerve, there may be sharp, throbbing pain and bleeding from the tooth — this needs same-day care. Read about throbbing tooth pain.
Should you pull a broken tooth yourself?
No. Trying to pull a broken tooth at home can leave root fragments behind, cause heavy bleeding, damage the bone and gums and introduce infection. Many broken teeth that look hopeless can actually be saved. If a tooth does need to come out, a dentist can remove it safely and comfortably — including teeth broken at the gum line. See how dentists remove rotten or broken teeth.
How a dentist removes a tooth broken at the gum line
When a tooth has broken off at or below the gum and can't be restored, the dentist numbs the area and carefully loosens and lifts out the remaining root. Sometimes a small surgical approach is used to reach the root. Socket preservation can be done at the same time to prepare for a future implant. Learn about extractions.
How broken teeth are repaired
- Bonding for small chips
- Fillings for minor breaks
- Crowns for large breaks and cracked teeth
- Root canal and crown when the nerve is exposed or infected
- Extraction and implant or bridge when the tooth can't be saved
See more in can a dentist restore broken teeth?
Is a broken tooth an emergency?
Call for a same-day appointment if you have severe pain, bleeding, swelling, a large break, a tooth that has moved or a knocked-out tooth. A small painless chip can usually wait a few days, but should still be checked. Go to the emergency room for facial trauma, a possible jaw fracture or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Emergency dentist in Burbank
Magnolia Dentistry offers same-day appointments for broken teeth, open daily from 6 AM to 12 AM (midnight), with Dr. Massaband on call for emergencies. Get emergency dental care.
Questions patients often ask
What should I do if I break a tooth?
Rinse with warm water, save any pieces in milk, apply a cold compress, take a pain reliever as directed and call your dentist as soon as possible.
Can I pull out a broken tooth myself?
You shouldn't. Pulling a broken tooth at home can leave fragments, cause bleeding and infection, and many broken teeth can be saved by a dentist.
How does a dentist remove a broken tooth at the gum line?
After numbing the area, the dentist carefully loosens and removes the remaining root, sometimes with a minor surgical approach, and can preserve the socket for a future implant.
Is a broken tooth an emergency?
It's urgent if there's severe pain, bleeding, swelling or exposed nerve. A small painless chip can usually be repaired within a few days.
How much does it cost to fix a broken tooth?
It depends on the repair — bonding costs least, while crowns, root canals and implants cost more. You'll receive an estimate before treatment.
Your next step
Talk with Dr. Massaband about your situation
Articles explain general options; an examination tells you what applies to you. Call the Burbank office or book online.
This article is general patient education and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for an in-person dental examination.
