Chipped and broken teeth

How to Fix a Chipped Tooth or a Broken Tooth

Chipping, breaking and cracking a tooth is not a serious dental condition and can easily be rectified by a restorative or cosmetic dentist.

Here at the Gentle Dental, our skilled restorative dentists have years and years of experience in repairing smiles and improving their aesthetics.

We make smiles stronger, healthier and more attractive.

Our most recommended treatments for chipped teeth include veneers or bonding.

Book an appointment today.

Caring for your chipped or broken tooth

If there’s one thing we know being restorative and cosmetic dentists is how painful and uncomfortable it can be to chip, break or crack a tooth.

It’s very easy for teeth to become damaged and it can happen in a number of ways. For patients who are in need of urgent tooth repair, see our repair specialists in East Molesey today.

We’re always here to help. Call 020 8224 7562.

If you’ve broken a tooth…

Rinse your mouth with warm water immediately, next apply pressure to the area to stop any bleeding, then place a cold compress to prevent any swelling.

If you have the piece of the broken tooth, conceal it in some wet gauze and bring it to us – we may be able to save it.

If you have lost a tooth…

We would advise using gauze to hold the crown and replace it back into the socket (if you can). If the tooth appears dirty, you can give it a rinse, but do not clean it.

If it is impossible for you to place back into your mouth, place it in back into a glass of milk or water and try to get an emergency dentist appointment within half an hour.

Book your emergency appointment now.

This will give you the best chances of saving your tooth.

However, if some time has passed we can replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, or conceal chips with cosmetic procedures like veneers.

What not to do

• Chew on the tooth
• Drink very hot or cold beverages
• Avoid touching the tooth root is exposed
• Do not bite down on hard foods

When to seek treatment

Common teeth that break is molars in the lower jaw, this is mainly down to their sharp cusps that grind into the grooves of the upper molars.

However, any tooth can crack from incisors to canines.

What might not be visible to the eye is where there are cracks than run from the root to the pulp chamber – these types of cracks can even be symptomless and confused for other dental conditions like cavities or tooth sensitivity.

Generally speaking, the wider and deeper the crack or break is, the more urgent it will be to seek treatment.

For example, patients who are experiencing severe chipping where most of the tooth has broken off may be at risk for tooth loss and jaw problems due to a build-up of pressure.

What treatments are available?

Unless you are only suffering from a minor chip, there will be no permanent fix for your damaged tooth without seeking assistance from a dentist.

1. Dental filling or bonding: Sometimes, when only a small piece of tooth enamel has broken off, it might be more advisable to undergo dental bonding or filling procedures, which repair the tooth quickly and cost-effectively. Using a tooth coloured composite resin, chips and cracks in teeth are restored in as little as one appointment. However, compared to other cosmetic procedures like veneers, bonding is not as longlasting or considered a permanent option. Read more.
2. Dental cap or crown: Covering the entire tooth like a cap, dental crowns sit above the gum line and can be used to conceal the damage where a tooth is severely damaged and cannot be repaired with a filling. Even if the tooth is cracked from an injury or accident, crowns can be used to hold the tooth together and prevent further damage. To have a crown fitted, the size of the tooth will need to be reduced for the crown to slot over. Crowns are made from highly durable materials that are long-lasting and natural-looking. Read more.
3. Veneers: A thin shell of porcelain, which unlike a crown, slots over the front surface of the tooth. Perfect for concealing minor to major imperfections veneers are commonly used to fix minor chipping and cracking problems. Highly stain-resistant and durable, veneers blend flawlessly with existing teeth. Read more.

Cosmetic treatment costs start from £745. See our prices here.

Call 020 8224 7562.