What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth East Haven, CT
If you chip a tooth, you may require immediate dental attention. A chipped tooth can happen when you least expect it—on vacation, during a business conference, or even if you trip and fall walking out of the dentist's office. You might also be able to wait until normal business hours for a dental evaluation. The only way to know how to proceed is to contact your dentist as soon as possible after chipping a tooth.
To learn more about what to do if you chip a tooth, our team at Haven Dental Care in East Haven is here to help. Call us at (203) 800-9909 to learn more or schedule an appointment.
Try to Stay Calm
Chipping a tooth can feel devastating, particularly because it can dramatically impact one's outward appearance. It can be difficult to think straight and create a plan of action after chipping a tooth, especially when it is accompanied by pain. The more one remains calm—using deep breathing techniques or a soothing mantra—the more efficiently they can help themselves by taking action.
When someone has chipped a tooth, take a moment to first assess the situation. Ascertain to survey the extent of the damage, including any teeth that may have fallen out. Then, get to a calm place where you can sit down and collect yourself.
“It can be difficult to think straight and create a plan of action after chipping a tooth, especially when it is accompanied by pain.”
What To Do About a Chipped Tooth
People suffering from a chipped tooth should schedule a dental appointment since professional treatment is the only way to fix it permanently. It is important to immediately take certain steps after chipping a tooth to address pain and protect the tooth and inside of the mouth from further injury. According to the American Dental Association, people should rinse their mouth with warm water right away to clean it.
After rinsing, they should apply pressure to stop any bleeding and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. People should be sure to save any pieces of the chipped tooth and wrap them in wet gauze to bring to our dentist. While waiting to see our dentist, people can use over-the-counter pain medication to manage pain and discomfort.
“It is important to immediately take certain steps after chipping a tooth to address pain and protect the tooth and inside of the mouth from further injury.”
Chipped Tooth in a Child vs. Adult
Although chipping a tooth is common for both adults and children, there are different concerns for each. Chipped primary teeth are especially common in children. We recommend treatments to repair the damaged tooth based on the patient's age and how badly the tooth is injured.
When treating chipped primary teeth in children, the main concern is to prevent damage to the underlying permanent tooth. Unlike an adult, a child's permanent teeth are not fully developed and will require immediate attention if a chip occurs. Regardless of whether the chipped tooth occurs in a child or adult, it is important to see our dentist as quickly as possible for treatment.
“When treating chipped primary teeth in children, the main concern is to prevent damage to the underlying permanent tooth.”
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How to Treat a Chipped Tooth
There are many treatment options available for chipped teeth, and treatment will depend on the nature of the injury. The American Dental Association notes that sometimes the chip in a tooth is small enough to be smoothed down with a file.
Other methods of repairing a chipped tooth include:
- Reattaching a broken fragment
- Bonding a composite resin to the tooth
- Repairing a chip with a tooth-colored filling
- Applying a veneer or crown
- Installing a dental implant
We will discuss the treatment options available to you, depending on the nature of the chip, and patients will be able to decide which option they prefer.
“We will discuss the treatment options available to you, depending on the nature of the chip, and patients will be able to decide which option they prefer.”
Questions Answered on This Page
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How to Take Care of a Chipped Tooth Once It Has Been Repaired
Depending on how the chipped tooth was repaired, the patient may require different levels of tooth maintenance to preserve its integrity. Immediately following the repair procedure, we will give the patient-specific instructions about how to care for the tooth in the aftermath.
These general maintenance principles apply across all chipped teeth that have been repaired:
- Exercise proper oral care by gently brushing twice daily and flossing once daily.
- Use products that are specially formulated for sensitive teeth, such as toothpaste and mouthwashes.
- Do not use teeth to open objects, and do not bite down on anything too hard.
- Get routine dental assessments (usually every six months) so that the health of the tooth can be monitored.
“Immediately following the repair procedure, we will give the patient-specific instructions about how to care for the tooth in the aftermath.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How common are chipped teeth?
A. It is very common to experience a chipped tooth. In fact, the American Association of Endodontists reports that the most common type of dental injury is a chipped tooth. Luckily there are many things you can do to avoid a chipped tooth, such as making sure you do not use your teeth to open non-food items and wearing a mouth guard during contact sports.
Q. How do chipped teeth most commonly occur?
A. The most common way teeth chip is through injury. However, they can occur from other situations besides accidents and are often a result of weakened tooth enamel. Biting down on hard foods or objects can chip a tooth easily when the teeth are not as strong as they once were. We recommend using a mouthguard when playing sports and while sleeping to avoid injury or chipping a tooth from grinding or clenching.
Q. Why does my chipped tooth hurt?
A. If your chipped tooth hurts, it may be because the injury extends past the surface of your tooth. If the chip continues through the enamel and dentin layers of your tooth and exposes the inner part of the tooth known as the tooth pulp, you can experience pain. Make sure to follow up with your dentist as soon as you can.
Q. What should I do with the piece of the tooth that chipped off?
A. If you locate the chipped piece of tooth, you should save it to bring to your dental appointment. Try to keep the tooth chip moist by transporting it in cold milk. It may be possible for your dentist to reattach the chipped piece, but this is not always possible.
Q. What if I chip a tooth and it falls out?
A. If your chipped tooth becomes loose and falls out, this constitutes a dental emergency. You should contact your dentist as soon as possible so that you have the highest likelihood of preserving the integrity of the tooth. If possible, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you try to keep the tooth moist by replacing it in your mouth until you receive further instructions from your dentist.
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Dental Emergency Terminology
Call Us Today
If you have a chipped tooth, do not panic. Our team at Haven Dental Care can help restore a chipped tooth's function and appearance. Call us today at 203-800-9909 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Clinical Terms. 2025
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2025
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2025
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