How to Fix a Broken Tooth

What To Do Right Now

Oh no! Did you break your tooth? A broken tooth can hurt a lot. Let's help you fix it.

When your tooth breaks, you need to act fast. About 40-60% of all dental hurt is from tooth breaks. That's a lot!

Here is what to do right now:

1. Rinse your mouth with warm water

2. If there is blood, put a clean bit of gauze on it

3. Put ice on your cheek to stop it from getting big

4. Keep any broken bits of your tooth in milk

A broken tooth needs a dentist. But you can do some things at home until you see a dentist.

Things You Can Do at Home

Before you go to the dentist, you can try these things to help with your broken tooth:

Cover Sharp Edges

If your broken tooth has sharp parts that hurt your mouth, you can:

• Use dental wax to cover it

• Try sugar-free gum to cover the sharp part

Use a Store Kit

You can get a kit from the store called DenTemp. This can fix your tooth for a short time. About 85% of people who use these kits say they feel less pain.

Stop the Pain

To help with pain from your broken tooth:

• Take some ibuprofen (like Advil)

• Don't take aspirin

• Put some clove oil on it

Be Careful What You Eat

When you have a broken tooth, don't eat:

• Hard food (like nuts)

• Very hot food

• Very cold food

Check out our dental emergency supplies to be ready for any dental problems.

When to See a Dentist

You need to see a dentist fast if your tooth is broken. Here's when to go right away:

• You have a lot of pain

• Your tooth is bleeding

• You can see a pink or red spot on your tooth (that's the nerve)

A dentist will:

• Take X-rays to see how bad the break is

• Look at your tooth to see if there's a crack or root damage

Try to see a dentist in 1-2 days so your tooth doesn't get an infection.

What the Dentist Will Do

The dentist can fix your broken tooth in a few ways:

Bonding

For a small chip, the dentist can use a type of plastic called composite resin. This costs about $300-$600.

Dental Crown

If you have a big break, you might need a crown. A crown is like a cap that goes over your tooth. This costs about $800-$3,000.

Root Canal

If the break shows the pulp (the inside of your tooth), you might need a root canal. Did you know more than 25 million root canals are done each year in the U.S.? That's a lot of teeth being fixed!

Tooth Removal and Implant

If your tooth can't be fixed, it might need to come out. Then you can get an implant to put a new tooth in. This costs about $4,200.

Our dental handpiece collection features tools dentists use to fix damaged teeth.

What NOT to Do

When you have a broken tooth, there are some things you should NOT do:

• Don't use super glue or any home glue

• Don't chew on the side with the broken tooth

• Don't think a crack will get better on its own - it won't!

Teeth can't heal like skin. Once a tooth is broken, it stays broken until a dentist fixes it.

Stop Teeth From Breaking

You can help stop your teeth from breaking by:

1. Wearing a mouthguard when you play sports (13-39% of tooth breaks happen during sports)

2. Not chewing ice, candy, or other hard things

3. Using a nightguard if you grind your teeth at night

Explore our dental curing lights used by professionals to repair damaged teeth.

Real Stories of Fixed Teeth

Story 1: Small Chip Fix

Tom, who is 28, chipped his front tooth when he bit into a hard candy. He went to the dentist the next day. The dentist used bonding to fix his tooth. It cost $350 and took just one visit. Now his smile looks good again!

Story 2: Big Break Fix

Lisa, who is 45, split her back tooth when she was chewing ice. She had a lot of pain. She had to get her tooth taken out and get an implant. It cost $4,200 but now she can chew with no pain.

Story 3: Crack Fix

Bob, who is 50, had a small crack in his tooth. It hurt when he ate hot or cold food. His dentist put a crown on his tooth. It cost $1,500 but the pain is all gone.

Important Facts About Broken Teeth

Here are some important things to know about broken teeth:

Questions People Ask

Can a broken tooth heal on its own?

No. Teeth can't heal by themselves. The enamel (hard outside part) can't grow back. You need a dentist to fix a broken tooth.

How much does it cost to fix a broken tooth?

It costs:

• $300-$600 for bonding

• $800-$3,000 for a crown

• $4,200 or more for an implant

Is a broken tooth an emergency?

Yes, if:

• You have a lot of pain

• Your tooth is bleeding

• You can see the nerve (pink or red spots)

Even if it doesn't hurt, you should still see a dentist soon.

Get Help Now

Don't wait if your tooth is broken! Even if the pain stops, you still need to see a dentist as soon as you can.

The good news is that most broken teeth can be fixed. Today's dentists have many ways to make your smile look good again.

Remember:

1. Rinse with warm water

2. Save any broken bits

3. Call your dentist right away

4. Use dental wax or sugar-free gum for sharp edges

5. Take ibuprofen for pain

A broken tooth can be scary, but now you know what to do!

Find dental suction equipment essential for many dental procedures including broken tooth repairs.

Final Words

A broken tooth happens to many people. About 40-60% of dental problems are tooth fractures! Now you know what to do if it happens to you.

Take care of your teeth by:

• Going to the dentist every 6 months

• Brushing twice a day

• Not biting hard things

• Wearing a mouthguard for sports

Your smile is important. Take good care of it!