Usually not, if there’s no pain, bleeding or sharp edge, though you should book soon. A broken tooth, severe pain, swelling or a knocked-out tooth needs urgent attention.
Chipped, Cracked or Broken Tooth: Repair Options and When It’s an Emergency
📍 Marlow, Buckinghamshire | 📞 01628 482002
A tooth can break on a rowing machine, a riverside run, a rugby pitch or a toffee. Whatever the cause, the same two questions come up. How urgent is this? And what will the dentist actually do? This guide answers both, and walks you through a repair appointment at Courthouse Dental & Implants in Marlow, so there are no surprises.
Short answer: A small chip with no pain is rarely an emergency and can be repaired at a booked appointment. Severe pain, swelling, bleeding, a knocked-out tooth or a large break needs urgent dental advice. Repairs range from smoothing and composite bonding to veneers, crowns and root canal treatment, depending on how much of the tooth is damaged.
When Is a Broken Tooth an Emergency?
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- you’ve had a head or facial injury, or lost consciousness
- you’re struggling to breathe or swallow
- swelling is spreading towards your eye or neck
- bleeding won’t stop
Call a dentist immediately (or NHS 111 if the practice is closed) if:
- an adult tooth has been knocked out or pushed out of position
- you have severe or throbbing pain, swelling, a pimple on the gum or a bad taste
- a large piece has broken off
Call us as soon as you can if:
- a tooth is broken, or sensitive to hot, cold or biting
- a sharp edge is cutting your tongue or cheek
Book a routine appointment if:
- it’s a small chip with no pain, though don’t leave it for weeks
If a Tooth Is Knocked Out
Pick it up by the crown, not the root. Rinse it very briefly in milk or water, without scrubbing. Push it gently back into the socket if you can and bite on a clean cloth. If you can’t, keep it in milk. Call straight away, because time matters. Never replant a baby tooth, as it can damage the adult tooth underneath. The NHS gives similar advice (NHS inform: broken or knocked-out tooth).
While You Wait
Rinse gently with warm water. Hold a cold compress to your cheek if it’s swelling. Eat soft food on the other side. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if suitable for you, following the pack instructions. Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax, and keep any broken piece in milk. Please don’t use household glue, and don’t put aspirin against the gum.
Check our contact page for current opening hours. If we’re closed, call NHS 111 for urgent dental advice.
Your Repair Appointment, Step by Step
Many people put off calling because they don’t know what will happen. Here’s what to expect.
- Step 1: A conversation. We’ll ask how it happened, when it happened, and whether you’ve had pain or sensitivity. Tell us if you grind your teeth or have had the tooth treated before.
- Step 2: An examination. The dentist checks the tooth, the gum around it and your bite. Cracks can be hard to see, so they may use magnification or a bite test.
- Step 3: An X-ray, where needed. This shows the root and the bone around it, and whether the nerve is at risk. Some cracks don’t show on X-rays, so the examination still matters.
- Step 4: Your options. We explain what’s possible, what each option involves and what it costs, before anything starts.
- Step 5: The repair. Depending on the damage, this is one of the treatments below. Local anaesthetic is used where needed, so you shouldn’t feel the treatment itself.
- Step 6: Aftercare. You’ll hear how to look after the repair, and what to do if something feels wrong. Some repairs, such as crowns, need a second visit.
Which Repair Might You Need?
Damage Possible Repair Tiny chip + Smoothing and polishing Small to medium chip on a visible tooth + Composite bonding Moderate break, especially at the back + Filling Larger chip on a front tooth, or shape and colour also need improving + Porcelain veneer Cracked cusp or failed large filling + Inlay or onlay Heavily damaged or cracked tooth + Crown Damage reaching the nerve + Root canal treatment, usually followed by a crown Tooth split below the gum, or beyond saving + Extraction, then a single-tooth implant or bridge We aim to use the least involved repair that will work well.
NHS or Private?
Courthouse Dental & Implants is a private and NHS dentist. Some repairs, such as fillings, crowns and root canal treatment, may be available on the NHS for patients who qualify, while cosmetic repairs like bonding and veneers are private. We’ll explain the difference before treatment starts. See our NHS treatment page and fees page.
What Happens If You Wait?
Enamel can’t regrow, so a chipped or cracked tooth won’t heal by itself. Waiting can lead to:
- a crack spreading, turning a small repair into a crown or root canal treatment
- decay getting into the exposed part of the tooth
- infection if the nerve is exposed
- a sharp edge repeatedly cutting your tongue or cheek
The earlier a damaged tooth is seen, the more of it we can usually keep.
How Do Teeth Get Damaged?
- Biting on hard food, ice, pen lids or fingernails
- Falls and knocks, including cycling accidents on the Chiltern lanes and trips on a riverside walk
- Contact sport and rowing, from collisions and stray oars to a slip on the boat shed steps
- Grinding or clenching, especially at night
- Large old fillings that weaken the tooth around them
- Decay that has hollowed out the tooth
- Age, as teeth become more brittle over time
Protecting Your Teeth
- Wear a mouthguard for rugby, hockey and other contact sports
- Ask us about a night guard if you wake with a sore jaw (see teeth grinding)
- Don’t use your teeth to open bottles, packets or tape
- Have old fillings checked at your regular dental examination
- Treat decay early
Children’s teeth often get knocked at play. Always have a damaged baby tooth checked. See our children’s dentistry page.
Feeling Nervous?
Pain and worry often arrive together. Tell us when you call, and we’ll explain each step and go at your pace.
Dental Care for Marlow and Beyond
Courthouse Dental & Implants is in the heart of Marlow, close to the High Street and the River Thames, with Marlow Bridge and Higginson Park a short walk away. We welcome patients from Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Bisham, Little Marlow, Bourne End, Medmenham, Cookham, Henley-on-Thames, Maidenhead and High Wycombe.
If you’ve damaged a tooth, call 01628 482002 as early as you can and tell us it’s urgent. We aim to see patients with urgent problems as soon as we can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?
What should I do if I break a tooth in Marlow?
Rinse your mouth, keep any piece in milk, cover sharp edges, take suitable pain relief and call us on 01628 482002. If we’re closed, call NHS 111.
Is there an emergency dentist in Marlow?
Call us as early as you can and tell us what’s happened. We aim to see patients with urgent problems as soon as we can. Out of hours, call NHS 111.
Can a chipped tooth be repaired?
Yes. Options include smoothing, composite bonding, veneers, fillings, inlays and onlays, and crowns, depending on the damage.
What happens if I leave a chipped tooth?
It won’t heal, and the damage can spread, leading to decay, infection or a bigger repair.
How do I know if my tooth is cracked?
Signs include pain when you bite that eases when you let go, sensitivity to hot and cold, and pain that comes and goes. Cracks can be hard to see, so an examination is the only way to be sure.
Can a cracked tooth be saved?
Often, yes, with a crown, and sometimes root canal treatment, especially if it’s caught early.
What if a tooth has been knocked out?
Hold it by the crown, rinse it briefly, push it back into the socket if you can or keep it in milk, and call us immediately. Never replant a baby tooth.
Will the repair hurt?
Local anaesthetic is used where needed. We’ll explain what to expect first.
How much does it cost to repair a broken tooth?
It depends on the treatment and whether you choose NHS or private care. We’ll confirm costs before we begin.
Broken a Tooth? Call Us.
The sooner a damaged tooth is seen, the more of it we can usually save.
CALL 01628 482002 OR BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Courthouse Dental & Implants, Marlow
