Urgent Care
Chipped or Cracked Teeth
A chip gets worse. A crack can cost you the tooth.
Damage to a tooth rarely stays where it started. A chip worsens over time, and a cracked tooth may need urgent repair to prevent it being lost altogether.
Dentistry for the whole household.
About Tooth Damage
Why broken teeth are treated as urgent
The difference between a repair and an extraction is often how quickly the tooth was seen. A chip may be a straightforward cosmetic repair today and a structural problem in six months. A crack can extend into the root, at which point the options narrow considerably.
Degrees Of Damage
What we are assessing for
The treatment depends entirely on how far the damage goes.
- A chipped tooth Can worsen over time, and is often repairable straightforwardly if seen early.
- A cracked tooth May require urgent repair to prevent tooth loss.
- A knocked-out tooth Fully or partially, this needs immediate care – treated quickly, the tooth may be saved.
- Lost or broken restorations A damaged filling or crown exposes sensitive areas and leads to further complications.
Before You Come In
What to do in the meantime
There is not much to do beyond getting seen, but a few things make the appointment easier and protect the tooth until then.
- Keep any fragment If a piece has broken away, bring it with you.
- Avoid chewing on that side Pressure on a cracked tooth can extend the crack.
- Rinse gently If there has been an injury to the lips, tongue or gums, keep the area clean.
- Call rather than wait Describe what has happened – a knocked-out tooth in particular is time-critical.
Repair Options
How a damaged tooth is restored
For minor damage, bonding can repair a chip in a single visit. Where more of the tooth is affected, a crown covers and protects what remains, and veneers are an option where the concern is the appearance of a front tooth. Which applies is a judgment made from looking at the tooth and imaging it.
Getting Seen
If a tooth has just broken
Call the office and describe what has happened. If a tooth has been knocked out, say so immediately – that one is time-critical. Talega Dental Group keeps same-day appointments for urgent cases. See emergency dental care for the full list of what to call about.
The short answer
A chipped or cracked tooth is a tooth that has lost part of its structure or developed a fracture, and it is treated as urgent because the damage rarely stays where it started. A chip can worsen over time, and a crack can extend into the root, at which point the options narrow considerably. Treatment depends on how far the damage goes, from bonding for a minor chip to a crown that covers and protects what remains, or a veneer where the concern is the appearance of a front tooth.
Common Questions
Chipped & Cracked Teeth FAQ
- My tooth is chipped but it does not hurt – does that matter?
Yes, a chip that does not hurt still matters, because a chipped tooth can worsen over time. A repair made now is usually simpler than what is needed once the damage has progressed. A chip may be a straightforward cosmetic repair today and a structural problem later, so it is worth having it looked at while the options are still wide.
- How urgent is a cracked tooth?
A cracked tooth is urgent and should not be left, because it may need prompt repair to prevent the tooth being lost. A crack can extend into the root, and once it does the options narrow considerably. Pressure from chewing can also extend the crack, which is why the difference between a repair and an extraction is often how quickly the tooth was seen.
- My tooth was knocked out – what do I do?
Call the office immediately and say that a tooth has been knocked out, because this is time-critical. A fully or partially knocked-out tooth needs immediate care, and if it is treated quickly the tooth may be saved. Describe what has happened when you call so you can be seen straight away.
- How will it be repaired?
A damaged tooth is repaired with bonding, a crown or a veneer, depending on how far the damage goes. Bonding can repair a minor chip in a single visit, while a crown covers and protects what remains where more of the tooth is affected. Veneers are an option where the concern is the appearance of a front tooth, and which applies is decided by looking at the tooth and imaging it.
- A filling has come out – is that an emergency?
A lost filling is worth calling about, because a lost or broken restoration exposes sensitive areas of the tooth. Left uncovered, that exposure can lead to further complications. Calling lets you describe what has happened so the tooth can be assessed and the restoration repaired or replaced.
- Can I be seen without being a patient here?
Yes, you can be seen without already being a patient. We accept new patients and offer walk-in emergency care. Same-day appointments are kept for urgent cases, so call the office and describe what has happened.
- Should I keep the broken piece?
Yes, keep the broken piece and bring it with you to the appointment. It is not always usable in the repair, but it helps us understand how the tooth failed. That information feeds into the assessment of how far the damage goes and which repair is appropriate.
- Can I eat normally until my appointment?
Avoid chewing on the damaged side until the tooth has been seen. Pressure on a cracked tooth can extend the crack and turn a repair into an extraction. If there has been an injury to the lips, tongue or gums, rinse gently to keep the area clean in the meantime.
Book a visit
Plan your visit
We accept new patients and offer walk-in emergency care.
Address
Phone
Office hours
Your dentist
Dr. Ben Meshkinfam, D.D.S.
University of the Pacific, D.D.S. · Post-doctorate at LAC+USC Medical Center
Insurance & financing
30 HMO and PPO plans accepted
Including Delta Dental, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Guardian, MetLife and Humana. Estimates in writing before treatment.
