Cracked or Chipped Tooth in Maitland: What To Do
If you have cracked or chipped a tooth, see a dentist quickly. Here is what to do right now, when it counts as an emergency, and how a cracked tooth is fixed.
A cracked or chipped tooth does not repair itself, so it is best to see a dentist quickly. Early treatment often saves the tooth and keeps the cost down. This guide covers what to do in the first few minutes, when a cracked tooth is an emergency, and how our Maitland dentists fix one. If you are in pain or the tooth is badly broken, call us and we will fit you in.
Key takeaways
- See a dentist quickly. A cracked tooth will not heal on its own, and early repair improves the chance of saving it.
- Save any broken piece in milk or a little salt water and bring it with you.
- Ease the pain with paracetamol or ibuprofen while you wait, and keep the area clean.
- It is an emergency if you have strong pain, swelling, bleeding that will not stop, or a tooth knocked loose. Call us for a same-day appointment.
- The fix depends on the crack: smoothing or bonding for a small chip, a crown for a larger crack, a root canal if the nerve is affected, or removing and replacing a tooth that cannot be saved.
What to do right now
If you have just cracked, chipped or broken a tooth, these steps help until you can be seen:
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area.
- Save the piece. If part of the tooth has broken off, put it in milk or a little salt water and bring it in.
- Stop any bleeding by pressing a clean gauze or cloth on the spot for a few minutes.
- Cover a sharp edge with a piece of sugar-free chewing gum or dental wax so it does not cut your tongue or cheek.
- Manage the pain with paracetamol or ibuprofen, and hold a cold pack to your cheek to settle swelling.
- Call your dentist and book in. Tell us what happened so we can give you the right appointment.
Is a cracked tooth an emergency?
A small chip with no pain can usually wait a day or two for a normal appointment, but it still needs checking so a small problem does not turn into a big one. Treat it as an emergency, and call us the same day, if you have strong or lasting pain, swelling in the face or gum, bleeding that will not stop, or a tooth that is loose or knocked out of place. Our emergency dentist in Maitland can see you quickly.
Cracked a tooth today?
Call us and we will fit you in. The sooner a cracked tooth is checked, the better the chance of saving it.
How a dentist fixes a cracked tooth
The right fix depends on how deep the crack goes and whether the nerve inside the tooth is affected. At an exam we check the tooth, sometimes with an X-ray, and talk you through the options:
A small chip is often smoothed or built back up with tooth-coloured composite bonding. A larger crack usually needs a crown to hold the tooth together. If the crack has reached the nerve, the tooth may need a root canal first. A tooth that cannot be saved is removed and replaced, often with a dental implant.
Talking through the options
What will it cost to fix?
The cost depends on the fix your tooth needs. Smoothing or bonding a small chip costs the least. A crown or a root canal costs more, and a tooth that has to be removed and replaced is the biggest job. At the exam we tell you which fix your tooth needs and give you a written quote before anything starts.
For a breakdown of each option, see our guides to composite bonding, dental crowns, root canal treatment, and dental implants in Maitland. For independent information, healthdirect has a guide to dental injuries.
Book to see a dentist in Maitland
New patients welcome. Call us or book online, and your dentist will check the tooth and tell you what it needs.
5.0 ★★★★★ Read reviews →Frequently asked questions
Is a cracked tooth an emergency?
A small chip with no pain can usually wait a day or two, but it still needs checking. Treat it as an emergency and call us the same day if you have strong pain, swelling, bleeding that will not stop, or a tooth that is loose or knocked out of place.
What should I do if I break a tooth?
Rinse gently with warm water, save any broken piece in milk or a little salt water, press clean gauze on any bleeding, and cover a sharp edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain and book to see a dentist.
Can a cracked tooth heal on its own?
No. Unlike a bone, a tooth cannot repair itself. A crack tends to spread over time, so seeing a dentist early gives the best chance of saving the tooth.
How does a dentist fix a cracked tooth?
It depends on the crack. A small chip is smoothed or bonded, a larger crack is capped with a crown, a crack that reaches the nerve may need a root canal first, and a tooth that cannot be saved is removed and replaced.
Will it hurt to get a cracked tooth fixed?
Treatment is done under local anaesthetic where it is needed, so the tooth is numb. Fixing a cracked tooth usually relieves the pain rather than adding to it.
What happens if I ignore a cracked tooth?
The crack can spread, the nerve inside can become infected, and the tooth may be lost. Treating it early keeps the tooth and keeps the cost down, since replacing a tooth costs more than saving it.