Not every chipped tooth is a dental emergency, but every new chip or fracture should be assessed by a dentist. A small chip without pain may be able to wait for a regular dental appointment, while a larger break, severe pain, bleeding, swelling or significant dental trauma may need urgent care.
If you have just chipped a tooth, rinse your mouth gently with water, avoid chewing on the affected side and save any broken piece you can find. If the tooth is painful, bleeding or badly broken, contact a dentist promptly.
For severe dental pain, significant bleeding or a major tooth fracture, see our emergency dentist in Newmarket information.
Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?
It depends on the size of the chip, how the injury happened and whether you have pain, bleeding, swelling or other symptoms.
| What You Notice | How Urgent May It Be? | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Small chip with no pain | Usually not an emergency | Book a dental appointment to have the tooth assessed |
| Sharp or rough edge | Prompt dental assessment | Avoid biting on the tooth and protect your tongue or cheek from the sharp edge |
| Sensitivity or pain when biting | Should be assessed promptly | Contact your dentist because the damage may extend beyond the outer enamel |
| Large piece of tooth has broken off | Urgent | Contact a dentist as soon as possible and bring the broken fragment if available |
| Severe pain, bleeding or increasing swelling | Urgent | Contact a dentist immediately for instructions and assessment |
| Major facial injury or uncontrolled bleeding | Medical emergency | Seek emergency medical care |
The Ontario Dental Association advises contacting a dentist as soon as possible for a chipped or broken tooth, particularly when there is pain or bleeding. Small, painless chips may not require emergency treatment, but they should still be examined. Cleveland Clinic similarly distinguishes a small painless chip from more serious fractures associated with significant pain or other symptoms.
What Should You Do Immediately After Chipping a Tooth?
The goal is to protect the tooth and surrounding tissues until a dentist can assess the damage.
- Rinse gently with water. This can help clear debris from the mouth after the injury.
- Save the broken piece if you can find it. The Ontario Dental Association recommends keeping a tooth fragment in cold milk and bringing it to the dentist. In some situations, the fragment may be useful during treatment.
- Use a cold compress if there is swelling. Apply it to the outside of the cheek rather than directly to the tooth.
- Avoid chewing on the affected tooth. Choose softer foods until the tooth has been assessed.
- Protect a sharp edge. If it is irritating your tongue or cheek, temporary orthodontic wax may help until you can see a dentist.
- Do not try to repair the tooth yourself. Do not use household glue or attempt to file the tooth.
If you need pain relief while waiting for dental care, use an over-the-counter medication only if it is appropriate for you and follow the package directions or advice from a healthcare professional. Do not place aspirin or another pain medication directly against the tooth or gum.
Why Did My Tooth Chip?
A tooth can chip because of a sudden injury or because its structure has gradually become weaker. Sometimes the underlying cause is obvious, while in other cases a dentist needs to examine the tooth to determine why it fractured.
- Trauma: a fall, sports injury or blow to the face can chip or fracture a tooth.
- Biting something hard: ice, hard candy, unpopped popcorn kernels or other hard objects can place substantial force on a tooth.
- Tooth decay: decay can weaken remaining tooth structure and make it easier for part of the tooth to break.
- Large or older restorations: a tooth with substantial previous dental work may have less natural structure remaining.
- Grinding or clenching: repeated forces from bruxism can contribute to tooth wear and cracking.
- Existing cracks: a tooth that already has a crack may fracture further during normal chewing.
Why Are My Teeth Chipping So Easily?
Repeated chipping deserves a dental assessment because there can be more than one contributing factor. The dentist may look for decay, worn enamel, large restorations, grinding or clenching, bite-related forces and existing cracks.
A chip does not necessarily mean that you have poor oral hygiene, and a tooth that appears healthy from the outside can still have structural weakness. A dental examination can help identify whether a specific tooth or a broader bite or oral-health issue is contributing to repeated fractures.
Can a Tooth Chip While Eating?
Yes. A tooth can break while chewing, particularly when biting something hard, but sometimes a tooth chips during an ordinary meal because it was already weakened by decay, a large restoration or an existing crack.
If a tooth seems to have chipped “for no reason,” the dental examination is important because the visible break may be the first sign of an underlying structural problem.
How Can You Tell How Serious a Chipped Tooth Is?
The appearance of the tooth is only part of the assessment. A dentist may evaluate the size and location of the fracture, whether enamel or deeper tooth structure is involved, your symptoms, the condition of existing fillings and whether there are signs of pulp or root involvement.
Dental X-rays may be appropriate when the dentist needs to evaluate damage that cannot be seen directly.
Small Enamel Chip
A small chip limited to the outer enamel may cause little or no pain. Depending on its location and appearance, the dentist may smooth the edge or restore the missing area with tooth-coloured material.
Deeper Chip or Fracture
A larger fracture can expose dentin, the layer beneath the enamel. This may cause sensitivity to temperature, pressure or chewing and usually requires restorative treatment.
Damage Involving the Dental Pulp
If a fracture reaches or significantly affects the pulp inside the tooth, symptoms may include substantial pain, lingering sensitivity or other signs of pulp injury. Root canal treatment may be considered when the pulp is inflamed or infected, but a chipped tooth does not automatically mean that a root canal is required.
How Is a Chipped Tooth Fixed?
Treatment depends on how much tooth structure was lost, where the fracture is located, whether the pulp is involved and how much healthy tooth remains.
Smoothing or Polishing
A very small enamel chip may sometimes only require smoothing or polishing if the dentist determines that additional restoration is unnecessary.
Reattaching the Broken Fragment
In selected cases, a dentist may be able to reattach a fragment of natural tooth. This is one reason to save the broken piece and bring it to your appointment.
Composite Bonding or Filling Material
For some small or moderate chips, tooth-coloured composite material can be used to rebuild the missing portion of the tooth. Whether this is suitable depends on the location and extent of the damage.
Dental Crown
A more extensively damaged tooth may need a crown to cover and protect the remaining tooth structure. The amount of healthy tooth remaining, the condition of the pulp and the position of the fracture all influence whether a crown is appropriate.
Learn more about dental crowns in Newmarket.
Root Canal Treatment
A root canal may be recommended when the pulp inside a damaged tooth becomes inflamed or infected. The American Association of Endodontists notes that cracks, chips and dental trauma can affect the pulp, but the need for root canal treatment depends on the actual diagnosis.
Learn more about root canal therapy in Newmarket.
Tooth Removal
Some severely fractured teeth cannot be predictably restored. If the fracture extends too deeply or insufficient healthy structure remains, removal may need to be discussed. A dentist must examine the tooth before determining whether it can be restored.
What Happens If You Leave a Chipped Tooth Untreated?
The outcome depends on the depth and location of the damage. A very small chip may remain relatively stable, while a deeper fracture may cause sensitivity, irritation, further breakage or damage to the pulp.
A chipped tooth does not automatically become infected. Infection becomes a concern when damage, decay or a crack allows bacteria to affect the pulp or surrounding tissues. Because the severity cannot always be judged from appearance alone, a dental assessment is recommended.
How Can You Reduce the Risk of Chipping a Tooth?
- Avoid chewing ice, hard candy, unpopped popcorn kernels and other very hard objects.
- Do not use your teeth to open packaging or as tools.
- Wear an appropriate mouthguard for sports or activities where dental trauma is possible.
- If you grind or clench your teeth, ask your dentist whether a protective appliance may be appropriate.
- Maintain regular dental examinations so decay, failing restorations and cracks can be identified when possible.
When Should You Seek Urgent Care for a Chipped Tooth?
Contact a dentist promptly if the chip is associated with significant pain, bleeding, swelling, a large missing piece of tooth, an injury to the face or a tooth that feels loose or displaced.
If there is uncontrolled bleeding, suspected serious facial injury or another medical emergency associated with the accident, seek emergency medical care.
For urgent dental concerns in Newmarket, see our emergency dental care information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a chipped tooth heal itself?
No. Lost enamel or tooth structure does not grow back. A small chip may not require extensive treatment, but the tooth should be assessed to determine whether smoothing, restoration or another treatment is appropriate.
Can I leave a small chipped tooth alone?
A small painless chip is usually less urgent than a large or painful fracture, but it is still worth having a dentist examine it. The dentist can check whether the damage is limited to enamel or extends farther into the tooth.
How quickly should I see a dentist for a chipped tooth?
Urgency depends on your symptoms. A small painless chip can usually be assessed through a regular dental appointment. A large fracture, significant pain, bleeding or swelling should be assessed more urgently.
What should I do if my tooth chipped while eating?
Stop chewing on that side, rinse your mouth gently and save any fragment you can find. Arrange a dental assessment because the tooth may have had decay, an existing crack or another structural weakness before it broke.
How does a dentist fix a chipped tooth?
Possible treatments include smoothing the edge, reattaching a fragment, rebuilding the tooth with composite material, placing a crown or, when the pulp is affected, performing root canal treatment. Severely damaged teeth may sometimes require removal. The appropriate option depends on the individual tooth.
Does every chipped tooth need a root canal?
No. Root canal treatment is considered when the pulp inside the tooth is inflamed or infected. Many chips are limited to the outer portions of the tooth and are treated without root canal therapy.
Should I go to the hospital for a chipped tooth?
Most chipped teeth are treated by a dentist rather than a hospital emergency department. Emergency medical care may be appropriate when the dental injury is part of a serious facial injury, bleeding cannot be controlled or another medical emergency is present.
Chipped or Broken a Tooth?
Eagle Family Dentistry can assess the damaged tooth, determine how extensive the fracture is and discuss treatment options based on the clinical findings. If you have significant pain, bleeding or swelling, tell the dental office when you call.
