My child chipped or broke a tooth — is it an emergency?

Chipped and broken teeth are among the most common dental injuries in active children, and how urgent the situation is depends on how much of the tooth is affected and whether your child is in pain. The good news is that many chips are easily repaired, and knowing what to do in the moment helps you respond calmly and give the tooth its best chance.

First, the immediate steps that apply to any broken tooth. Have your child rinse gently with warm water to clean the area and let you see what's going on. If you can find the broken piece, save it in a cup of milk or your child's own saliva — in some cases a fragment can be bonded back into place, especially for a clean break of a front tooth. Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek to limit swelling, and give an age-appropriate dose of children's pain reliever if your child is uncomfortable. If a sharp edge is irritating the tongue or cheek, a piece of orthodontic wax or even sugar-free gum pressed over the edge can protect the soft tissue until you're seen.

Now, judging the urgency. A small chip in the enamel with no pain and no sharp edge generally isn't an emergency — you can call and schedule a prompt but routine visit, and we may simply smooth the edge or add a small bonded repair. A more significant fracture is more pressing, and should be seen quickly, especially if you notice pink or red in the middle of the broken tooth (that's the inner pulp, where the nerve lives), if there's bleeding from the tooth itself, if the tooth is loose or has moved, if a sharp edge is cutting the mouth, or if your child is in real pain or the tooth is sensitive to air and temperature. These situations need prompt care to protect the tooth, control discomfort, and prevent infection.

It's also worth remembering that a blow hard enough to break a tooth may have injured it in ways you can't see, even if only a small piece is missing — so a chipped tooth from a significant impact is always worth having checked, and watch in the following days for darkening of the tooth or new pain, which can signal the nerve was affected.

When in doubt, call us at (201) 345-3637 and describe what you're seeing — the size of the break, any bleeding or pain, whether the tooth moved. We'll tell you whether to come in right away or schedule soon, and how to keep your child comfortable in the meantime. Either way, most broken teeth can be repaired well, and we'll restore both the tooth and your child's smile.