Chipped, Broken Or Cracked Tooth - NHS

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Chipped, broken or cracked tooth

Chipping, breaking or cracking a tooth is usually not serious. A dentist should be able to treat it.

Non-urgent advice: See a dentist if you or your child has:

  • chipped, cracked or broken a tooth

If a piece of tooth has broken off, put it in milk or saliva (by spitting into a container if it's your tooth, or having your child spit into a container if it's theirs) and take it to a dentist. The dentist may be able to glue the piece of tooth back on.

Do not go to a GP. They will not be able to give you dental treatment.

How to see a dentist in an emergency or out of hours

For urgent dental treatment:

  • call a dentist – if they're closed, their answerphone may say what to do

If you do not have a dentist or cannot get an emergency appointment:

  • call 111 – they can advise you what to do
  • find a dentist near you – ask for an emergency appointment

You may have to pay for your appointment.

Read more about NHS dental charges

What the dentist will do

Treatments for a chipped, broken or cracked tooth may include:

  • gluing the fragment of tooth back on
  • a filling or a crown (a cap that completely covers the broken tooth)
  • root canal treatment for a badly broken tooth where the nerves are exposed

Read more about dental treatments

Page last reviewed: 09 January 2025 Next review due: 09 January 2028

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