Rinse with salt water.
Then call us.
A chipped tooth is one of the most common things we see, and most of them are straightforward. What follows is what to do in the first hour — and it is a reference point, not a substitute for being seen.
Three steps.
Rinse with warm salt water
This clears debris and surface blood, and reduces the chance of infection developing. Warm, not hot — exposed dentin is sensitive to temperature.
Gauze and light pressure
Place gauze or a cool cloth against the area and press gently. It slows any bleeding and often eases the discomfort of exposed dentin.
With children this does double duty — having something to hold and press takes their mind off it.
Dental cement, if you must
Most drugstores sell dental cement, which can temporarily cover the damaged surface. It is a stopgap for getting through the night, not a repair.
We would far rather simply restore the tooth properly and immediately.
We’ll ask you three things.
Not to make you wait — to work out how serious it is and how fast you need to be seen.
Are you in pain? You may not be, and that is normal. It depends on how big the chip is, where on the tooth it is, and which tooth. Plenty of people chip a tooth lightly on something hard or crunchy and only notice days later while brushing. But if you are in pain, call immediately — pain is your body flagging a problem, and restoring the tooth prevents further damage and infection.
Are you bleeding? Come in straight away. Bleeding alongside a chip can mean there is more damage than you are currently aware of. Rinse with warm salt water first, and if it persists, come in.
Was it you or your child? Age changes the recommendation. Children tend to be more sensitive to discomfort, so it is wise to have the damage restored right away rather than watched.
A small chip is still an opening
Enamel does not grow back. Once the surface is broken, the layer underneath is exposed to bacteria and to temperature, and a chip that is comfortable today can become a sensitive tooth or an infection later.
It is also far easier to repair a clean chip than a crack that has been flexing for six months.
We are an emergency dentist and a cosmetic one.
Which matters here more than it sounds: the tooth gets treated quickly and restored so it does not look repaired.
Dental bonding
The fastest route, completed in a single visit. Tooth-coloured material is applied to the damaged area, shaped, and hardened for a natural-looking result.
This is what we regularly use for chipped teeth in children, and it works just as well for adults.
Veneers
For front teeth where several things need correcting at once — the chip along with worn edges, shade, or small gaps between teeth.
A popular option, though it involves removing a little enamel, so it is a bigger decision than bonding.
Crowns and bridges
If you have lost a tooth as well as damaging one, we restore the damage and then replace what is missing — with a crown and bridge, or with an implant.
Both restore how the smile looks and how it works.
We will work around your schedule.
Call the office and tell us what happened. We will do our best to fit you in so the tooth gets restored straight away rather than in three weeks.
We are open Monday and Wednesday to Friday in Wethersfield, and Tuesdays in Enfield, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. If a chip happens outside those hours and you are in real pain or bleeding heavily, see emergency dentist vs. emergency room — otherwise ring us first thing.
Come in sooner if
- You are in pain, at all
- There is bleeding that does not settle
- The tooth is sensitive to hot or cold
- You can feel a rough or sharp edge with your tongue
- The chip is on a front tooth
- It is a child’s tooth
- The tooth feels loose, or the bite feels different
Answered honestly.
It doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to come in?
Can you fix it in one visit?
Should I save the piece that broke off?
Will the repair be noticeable?
How do I stop it happening again?
Is it covered by insurance?
Call as soon as it happens.
Most chipped teeth are a single straightforward appointment — considerably more straightforward than the same tooth six months later.