Usually within a few days
Minor chip
A small enamel piece is missing with no pain or sharp edge. It still deserves assessment because the extent is not always visible.
- Typical care
- Smoothing, bonding or composite repair
- From
- $150
Broken tooth first aid, urgency and repair options. Simple repair starts from $150; crown treatment starts from $1,600.
Emergency decision guide
Broken tooth. Protect it, then choose the right appointment.
A small chip and a painful fracture need different timing. Start with simple first aid, then use the signs below to decide how quickly to be seen.
What to do now
Eight calm, practical first steps.
These steps protect the tooth and soft tissue while you arrange care. They do not replace an examination.
Rinse gently
Use warm salt water. Do not scrub the broken area or probe it with an object.
Control bleeding
Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze for about 10 minutes. Seek urgent help if bleeding will not stop.
Use a cold compress
Hold it against the outside of the cheek for short intervals to help manage swelling.
Protect the area
Cover a sharp edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum and avoid chewing on that side.
Save larger pieces
Place a substantial fragment in milk, saliva or saline. Do not store it dry.
Manage pain safely
Use over-the-counter pain relief only if suitable for you and follow the packet directions.
Choose soft food
Avoid temperature extremes and hard, sticky or sweet foods until the tooth is assessed.
Arrange assessment
Book online at any time. During opening hours, call if you need help judging urgency.
Severity guide
Match the signs to the likely timing.
If the picture is unclear, book the earliest suitable appointment or call during opening hours for triage.
Prompt appointment
Moderate break
A larger piece is missing, with a sharp edge or sensitivity but no visible pink or red tissue.
- Typical care
- Bonding, build-up or crown
- From
- $200 to $1,600
Prompt triage
Severe break
A large part is missing, pain is present, or pink or red tissue is visible. The nerve may be exposed.
- Typical care
- Root canal and crown, or extraction
- From
- $1,000; final scope varies
Urgent assessment
Split tooth
A crack appears to run through the tooth or below the gumline, often with pain when biting.
- Typical care
- Assessment, restoration or extraction
- Fee
- Assessment needed
Protect the tooth
What helps until you are seen.
Temporary care should reduce irritation without delaying an assessment.
Do
- Keep larger fragments moist in milk, saliva or saline
- Choose soft food and chew on the other side
- Use dental wax on a sharp edge
- Address grinding or clenching with your dentist
Avoid
- Do not glue a fragment back yourself
- Do not place aspirin on the tooth or gum
- Do not chew ice or hard food
- Do not ignore increasing pain, swelling or fever
Common questions
Clear answers before the appointment.
Treatment depends on where the fracture runs, how much tooth remains and whether the nerve is involved.
Is a broken tooth a dental emergency?
It depends on the damage. A small chip without pain may wait a few days. Pain, a sharp edge cutting the mouth, bleeding, a loose fragment, or visible pink or red tissue warrants prompt triage.
What should I do right now?
Rinse gently with warm salt water, use a cold compress for swelling, and follow packet directions for over-the-counter pain relief if it is safe for you. Save any large tooth pieces in milk or saliva and arrange an assessment.
Can a broken tooth be repaired?
Many broken teeth can be repaired. Options include smoothing, bonding, a filling or crown, and root canal treatment if the nerve is involved. Extraction is considered when the tooth cannot be predictably restored.
How much does broken tooth repair cost?
Simple repair starts from $150. A crown starts from $1,600. The examination confirms the damage and written quote before treatment.
Should I keep the broken piece?
Yes, if it is a substantial piece. Handle it gently and store it in milk, saliva or saline. Sometimes a fragment can be bonded back. Small chips are usually restored another way.
Can I eat before the appointment?
Choose soft foods and chew on the other side. Avoid very hot, cold, sweet, sticky or crunchy foods. Dental wax or sugar-free gum can temporarily cover a sharp edge.
Emergency appointments
Book the assessment now, then protect the tooth.
Emergency appointments can be booked online at any time. During opening hours, call if pain, bleeding or the depth of the break makes the timing unclear.