TL:DR
-
Chipped and broken teeth are common, and not every case is a dental emergency.
-
A true dental emergency involves heavy bleeding, severe tooth pain, or tooth loss, and may require same-day care or a visit to urgent care or the ER.
-
A small chip without severe pain is usually not an emergency and can wait for a regular dental appointment.
-
Mild pain from a chipped tooth can often be managed with over-the-counter medicine until you see your dentist.
-
Broken teeth usually need prompt treatment, such as composite bonding, to prevent further damage.
-
Before you see a dentist, rinse your mouth with warm water, apply pressure to stop bleeding, and use an ice pack to limit swelling.
-
Avoid aspirin, since it can increase bleeding.
-
If a whole tooth is knocked out, rinse it gently, store it in milk or saline, and take it to the dentist as soon as possible.
-
Severe pain, a cracked or fractured tooth, heavy bleeding, or a fully knocked-out tooth is an emergency and needs immediate dental care.
Is a Broken Tooth a Dental Emergency?
It is quite common to chip or break a tooth. Sometimes, you may have a damaged tooth due to a fall or a sports injury. Other times, you may break a tooth or get a chipped tooth by simply biting down on something hard, like a candy or ice.
But perhaps you do not know what to do if you have a broken tooth or a chipped tooth. It is not always clear what qualifies as a dental emergency.
So, how do you determine if you should seek emergency dental treatment after chipping or breaking a tooth? Read further as we discuss whether or not a broken tooth is an emergency.
Understanding What is a Dental Emergency
A dental emergency would require seeing a dental professional for help. If you need immediate attention, it is best to try and schedule a same-day appointment. And, if you cannot get a same-day appointment, you can try to go to a hospital emergency room or urgent care facility. This is a way to get medical treatment while still waiting to see the dentist.
So, what qualifies as a dental emergency? If you find that your mouth is bleeding excessively, if you are experiencing severe tooth pain, or have tooth loss, that is considered a dental emergency. A broken tooth, however, may not require immediate dental care. If you simply chipped your tooth, and you are not experiencing acute pain, just discomfort, then scheduling a dental appointment may be enough.
A chipped tooth is not a threat to your immediate health or overall well-being. If you are experiencing some tooth pain, it can be managed with over-the-counter medicine until you can see your regular dentist. A small chip will more than likely be smoothed out by your dentist.
For a broken tooth, the dentist may have to fill in the space with a composite dental bonding material that matches your teeth. Remember that a broken or chipped tooth, while not always an emergency, still should be treated sooner rather than later. If left too long without treatment, you could cause further damage to the tooth or mouth.
How to Treat a Broken Tooth Before You Seek Help
If your mouth is bleeding, try rinsing with warm water and applying pressure to the area to stop the bleeding. You can apply an ice pack to stop your face from swelling. Do not take over-the-counter medicine like aspirin because it may increase the bleeding. And, if your entire tooth was knocked out, rinse it under warm water.
Then, store it in saline solution or milk as you transport it to your dentist. Your dental professional can determine from there if the tooth can be saved. So, when deciding if a broken tooth qualifies as a dental emergency, remember that minor chips or slight breaks can wait for a regularly scheduled dental appointment.
If your tooth breaks and you experience severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding or exposed nerve tissue, call an emergency dentist near you right away. Prompt care can relieve pain, reduce the risk of infection, and help preserve the tooth before further damage occurs.