Most people think pain is what makes a broken tooth urgent. Pain is one signal, but it's not the only one — and it's often a late one.
Here's the practical guide to broken teeth.
Probably an emergency
- You can see pink or red tissue inside the tooth (the nerve is exposed)
- The tooth is sensitive to air, cold or sweet
- A piece is missing from the chewing surface, not just the edge
- The tooth is loose or has shifted
- There's bleeding from the tooth itself or surrounding gum
- You can feel a sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek
Probably not urgent (but still book this week)
- A small enamel chip with no sensitivity
- A craze line (surface crack) with no pain
- A worn or chipped front-tooth edge that's mostly cosmetic
Why "no pain" doesn't mean "no problem"
A crack can extend below the gum line without hurting initially. Chewing forces expand the crack until it splits the tooth — at which point the only option is extraction. Catching cracks while they're small is the difference between a $300 bonding and a $4,000 extraction-plus-implant.
What we do
A quick exam, transillumination (a strong light to find cracks) and digital X-ray tell us how deep the damage goes. Treatment options:
- Composite bonding for small chips — same visit, tooth-coloured
- Onlay or crown for larger fractures involving the chewing surface
- Root canal if the crack reaches the nerve
- Extraction with implant planning if the tooth is split below the gum and unrestorable
Most front-tooth chips are restored in a single visit with bonding. Larger fractures may need a temporary crown until the permanent one is made.
If you're holding a piece of your tooth right now, save it in milk and book an appointment online.