Dental Emergency

What Should You Do if You’ve Chipped a Tooth?

May 3, 2024

So you’ve chipped a tooth, what now? Chipping or breaking a tooth can be an unexpected and often painful experience. Our team at Highlight Family Dentistry has put together a guide to help ease your discomfort and ensure the best possible outcomes for your smile. Remember – an injury may not seem as serious as it is, so it’s important to seek immediate emergency dental care. 

Immediate Steps After Chipping or Breaking a Tooth 

If you chip or break a tooth, rinse your mouth with lukewarm water to clean the area. If trauma to the mouth has resulted in bleeding, place gentle pressure using a clean cloth or gauze. Don’t scrub or irritate the area—just hold steady pressure. Cold compresses can also help relieve any discomfort or swelling. If needed, take over-the-counter pain relief medication to help alleviate your pain. 

If there are any tooth fragments, collect them and place them in saliva or milk to keep them moist. Make sure to contact our office right away. Our emergency dentists will offer guidance and immediate care instructions based on your symptoms and schedule an emergency appointment to provide you with immediate care. 

If you have uncontrollable bleeding or have suffered a head injury or a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or head to your nearest emergency room. The good news is that, in most cases, a chipped tooth is not an immediate threat to your health. 

How Are Chipped Teeth Treated?

The ideal treatment for a chipped tooth will depend on the severity of the damage. Here are some treatment options we may recommend to restore your healthy smile:  

  • Cosmetic Bonding: If you have a minor tooth chip and only a small piece of your tooth is missing, we may recommend a noninvasive procedure known as cosmetic bonding. This involves applying a composite resin filling material to your affected tooth, restoring its natural form and function. 
  • Porcelain Veneers: Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells we place on the front of your teeth to repair chips and other tooth flaws and imperfections. The aesthetic restorations help fortify your tooth structure while delivering beautifully natural results. 
  • Dental Crowns: If the tooth damage is more severe, we may recommend a dental crown to encase and protect the affected tooth and prevent further damage or complications. At Highlight Family Dentistry, we offer custom crowns that look like your natural teeth, delivering healthy, seamless smiles. 
  • Root Canal Therapy: If a chip or crack affects the inner pulp, we may recommend root canal therapy to save the tooth. A root canal-treated tooth can be prone to damage, which is why we typically recommend protecting it with a dental crown. 
  • Tooth Extraction: At times, a crack can result in irreparable damage, necessitating the extraction of the affected tooth. Replacing the extracted tooth with a dental implant, bridge, or partial dental will restore your complete smile and prevent the remaining teeth from shifting out of alignment, safeguarding your oral health.  

Restorative Dentistry Solutions Near Me in Hutto, TX

If you have a chipped, broken, cracked, or otherwise damaged tooth, it’s important to contact Highlight Family Dentistry of Hutto without delay. Our dedicated dentists and team will recommend the most conservative treatment option to restore your smile’s health, function, and natural appearance. Call us at (512) 886-2644 to schedule your appointment, or book one online today!