A chipped or broken tooth can be alarming, whether it happens over dinner, on the sports field or after a fall. A small chip is often minor, while a larger break, or one that hurts, usually needs prompt assessment. Whether you need broken tooth emergency treatment depends on how much of the tooth is damaged, what symptoms you have and whether an injury caused it.
This guide from Guildford Smiles Dental explains what to do straight away, when to seek urgent care and how broken teeth are repaired. If a blow to the head or face has caused heavy bleeding that will not stop, swelling spreading across your face or neck, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, call 999 or go to A&E before anything else.
Please contact the practice, describe the injury and ask about appointment availability.
Call Guildford Smiles Dental on 0148 336 1739
Book your appointment online
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Appointments subject to availability.
The short answer
A small chip with no pain is not usually an emergency, but it should still be checked. A larger break, a painful or sensitive tooth, a sharp edge, bleeding or any injury to the face needs prompt dental assessment. Swelling that spreads, uncontrolled bleeding or trouble breathing or swallowing needs 999 or A&E.
What Should You Do Immediately If You Break a Tooth?
Start by checking for a serious injury. If you have hit your head, feel dizzy or confused, or your face or jaw looks badly injured, seek medical help first. The tooth can wait.
If you are otherwise well, these steps will protect the tooth until you can be seen.
Rinse your mouth gently
Swish lukewarm water around your mouth and let it fall out into the sink. Do not rinse hard or poke at the area, as this can irritate the tooth and gum. If there is bleeding, press a clean piece of gauze or cloth against the area.
Keep any broken fragments
Pick up any pieces you can find and keep them in a small container with a little milk. Bring them to your appointment. Your dentist may not be able to reattach a fragment, but seeing it helps them judge how much of the tooth has been lost.
Protect the damaged tooth
Avoid chewing on that side and choose soft foods until the tooth has been assessed. Chips can leave a sharp edge that catches your tongue or cheek. Dental wax, available from many pharmacies, can cover the edge temporarily.
Manage pain or swelling
A cold compress held against the outside of the cheek may ease swelling. If you take pain relief, make sure it suits you and follow the packaging. A pharmacist or NHS 111 can advise if you are pregnant, take other medicines or have a medical condition.
Contact a dentist
Arrange prompt assessment for a painful fracture, significant damage, a tooth that feels very sensitive or looks as if the inner part is showing, or any dental injury. Only an examination can confirm how deep the damage goes. For more on urgent care at the practice, see our page on [emergency dental care in Guildford]([PILLAR PAGE URL]).
Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?
It depends on the situation. These are the common scenarios.
A small chip with no pain
A minor chip may not need emergency treatment. Even so, have a dentist look at it, because small defects can catch decay or worsen over time. They can advise on repair options.
A broken tooth with pain or sensitivity
Pain or sensitivity to hot, cold or biting suggests the break may be close to the inner part of the tooth, called the pulp. The pulp contains the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels, so a painful fracture deserves prompt dental advice.
A broken tooth after an accident
After a fall, collision or blow to the face, the root and surrounding tissues may be affected even when the visible damage looks small. A tooth may also have loosened or moved. Get assessed after any accident involving the mouth. A tooth that has been knocked out completely is more urgent, so call the practice immediately.
A broken tooth with swelling or uncontrolled bleeding
Swelling, a bad taste or a high temperature alongside a broken tooth may point to infection and needs urgent dental or medical advice. Bleeding that will not stop is different again, and needs emergency medical help.
When Is Broken Tooth Emergency Treatment Needed?
Use this table to decide where to turn. These are general guides rather than a diagnosis.
| Where to turn | Typical situations |
| Contact your dentist (opening hours) | Painful or sensitive broken tooth, large fracture, sharp edge, lost filling or crown, a chip after a minor knock, swelling confined to the gum |
| NHS 111 online (or call 111) | The practice is closed and you need urgent advice, pain you cannot control, swelling with a high temperature, or you are unsure what to do |
| 999 or A&E | Difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading rapidly across the face or neck, bleeding you cannot control, serious head or facial injury, loss of consciousness |
A painless chip does not need emergency care out of hours. If the practice is closed, protect the tooth as above and call us on the next working day.
Call Guildford Smiles Dental on 0148 336 1739
Book your appointment online
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Appointments subject to availability.
What Causes Teeth to Chip or Break?
Teeth are strong, but they are not indestructible. Common causes include:
- Biting on hard foods or objects such as ice, boiled sweets, nuts or pen lids.
- Sports injuries, falls or accidents.
- Tooth decay, which weakens the structure of the tooth from within.
- Large old fillings or other restorations that leave less natural tooth to support them.
- Grinding or clenching, which can create tiny cracks over time.
Chipped, cracked and broken do not mean the same thing. A chip is usually a small piece lost from the edge. A crack is a line in the tooth that may not be visible, and cracked tooth pain often comes and goes when you bite or release. A broken tooth has lost a larger section.
What Treatments Can Repair a Broken Tooth?
The right option depends on what the dentist finds. They will usually ask about your symptoms, examine the tooth and may take an intra oral X-ray. Not every broken tooth needs a crown or root canal treatment, and we cannot promise a particular procedure at the first visit.
Smoothing or repairing a minor chip
Small defects may be smoothed, or rebuilt with a tooth-coloured material such as composite bonding, depending on the clinical findings.
White filling
Where enough healthy tooth remains, a white filling can restore the shape of the tooth in a tooth-coloured material.
Crown or other restoration
A larger fracture may need more protection. A crown fits over the tooth to strengthen it and restore its shape, and other restorations such as inlays or onlays may be suitable in some cases.
Root canal treatment
If the break reaches the pulp, or the pulp is inflamed or infected, root canal treatment may be needed to remove the damaged tissue and save the tooth. Whether it is required depends on the extent and location of the fracture.
Tooth extraction
If a tooth cannot be restored, for example when a crack runs deep into the root, removal may be advised after assessment. Extraction is not the starting point. Your dentist will explain the options, including replacement choices afterwards.
What Should You Avoid After Breaking a Tooth?
- Do not chew on the damaged tooth.
- Do not glue fragments back with household adhesive, which is not safe for use in the mouth.
- Do not place aspirin on the tooth or gum, as it can burn the soft tissue.
- Do not ignore significant pain because the visible chip looks small.
- Do not delay assessment if swelling, a bad taste, fever or worsening pain develops.
How Much Does Broken Tooth Treatment Cost in Guildford?
The cost depends on the examination and the treatment needed, and your dentist can only say what that is after assessing the tooth. These are starting prices, not a total:
| Service | Starting price |
| Emergency appointment | from £85 |
| Intra oral X-ray | £19 to £22 |
| Edge bonding | from £200 per tooth |
| White filling (1 to 3 surfaces) | from £185 to £295 |
| Porcelain or zirconium crown | from £845 |
| Root canal | from £495 |
| Extraction | from £200 |
The emergency appointment fee is not necessarily the total cost of repairing a broken tooth. Treatment fees are separate, and further treatment may cost more. Our fee guide has the full details, and the team can explain 0% APR finance through Tabeo.
Can You Prevent a Tooth From Breaking Again?
You cannot remove all risk, but you can lower it. Avoid biting hard objects, treat decay early, attend regular check-ups so weak fillings and cracks are spotted sooner, and wear a custom mouth guard for contact sports. If you grind your teeth, mention it at your appointment.
How to Get Help for a Broken Tooth in Guildford
Please call during opening hours, describe the injury and confirm availability before you travel. Emergency appointments are available, subject to availability, and we cannot promise a same-day slot.
- Address: 8 Phoenix Court, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3EG
- Phone: 0148 336 1739
- Email: enquiries@guildfordsmiles.com
- Online booking: guildfordsmiles.portal.dental
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Closed Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.
If you live in Merrow or are travelling from Woking, please call first so we can confirm availability before you set off.
Get your broken tooth checked
Most broken teeth can be assessed calmly and treated in a way that suits the damage. Check for serious symptoms, protect the tooth, avoid the common mistakes and arrange an assessment. If you are unsure how urgent it is, ask us.
Call Guildford Smiles Dental on 0148 336 1739
Book your appointment online
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Appointments subject to availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. A small, painless chip is usually not an emergency, though it should be checked. A chip that is painful, leaves a sharp edge or follows an injury needs prompt assessment.
Check for serious injury first. Rinse gently, keep the fragment in milk, avoid chewing on that side and contact a dentist promptly. Call 999 or go to A&E if you have heavy bleeding, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a serious head or facial injury.
Sometimes, but it depends on the damage. A minor chip may be smoothed or restored in one visit, while a larger break may need further treatment. We cannot promise a particular procedure at the first appointment.
No. Some broken teeth can be smoothed, bonded or restored with a white filling. A crown may be advised where a large part of the tooth is missing or weakened, and your dentist will explain why.
Rinse gently, avoid chewing on that side and use pain relief as the packaging or a pharmacist advises. Contact a dentist promptly, as pain can mean the inner part of the tooth is affected. Never place aspirin on the tooth or gum.
It depends on the examination and treatment needed. Emergency appointments start from £85, and a white filling starts from £185 to £295. These are separate starting prices, and further treatment may cost more.
Often, yes. Options range from smoothing or bonding to a white filling, crown or root canal treatment. Extraction is considered only if the tooth cannot be restored.
Often you can book a routine appointment rather than seeking urgent care. Do not leave it for long, because chips can catch decay and weak teeth can break further. Call us if pain, swelling or a sharp edge develops.
Guildford Smiles Dental is closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. Protect the tooth as described above and use NHS 111 online for urgent advice. Call us on the next working day and we will confirm availability.
