Emergency Dental of Garland repairs broken, chipped, and cracked teeth the same day you call. If you are looking at a piece of tooth in your hand right now, or you can feel a sharp edge with your tongue, call us at 254-784-8688. We will get you in fast.
Teeth break for all sorts of reasons. Biting down on something hard, a fall, a sports injury, grinding your teeth at night, or simply weakened enamel from old fillings. Whatever caused it, the important thing is getting it treated before the damage gets worse.
Types of Tooth Fractures We Treat
Not all breaks are the same, and each type needs a different approach:
- Minor chips: Small pieces of enamel that break off. Usually painless but leave a rough edge. We fix these with dental bonding in a single visit.
- Cracked teeth: A crack that extends from the chewing surface down toward the root. These can cause sharp pain when you bite and release. The crack may not be visible but we can find it with testing.
- Broken cusps: When a piece of the tooth"s chewing surface breaks off. Common around old fillings that have weakened the tooth structure.
- Serious breaks: When a large portion of the tooth breaks off, sometimes exposing the nerve. These are painful and need immediate treatment.
- Split tooth: A crack that splits the tooth into two segments. This usually requires extraction, but we always assess whether the tooth can be saved first.
Immediate Steps After Breaking a Tooth
Here is what to do right after a tooth breaks:
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area.
- If you find the broken piece, save it. Place it in a clean container with milk or your own saliva.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your face near the break to reduce swelling.
- If there is a sharp edge, cover it with a piece of sugar-free gum or dental wax to protect your tongue and cheek.
- Take over-the-counter ibuprofen for pain, not aspirin (aspirin can increase bleeding).
- Call our emergency dentist in Garland, TX at 254-784-8688.
Treatment Options for Broken Teeth in Garland
The right fix depends on the size and location of the break:
- Dental bonding: For small chips, we apply tooth-colored resin directly to the tooth and shape it to match. Done in one visit, looks natural.
- Dental crown: For larger breaks, a crown covers and protects the entire remaining tooth structure. We can often do same-day crowns.
- Root canal + crown: If the break has reached the nerve, we perform an emergency root canal to remove the infected tissue, then place a crown over the top.
- Extraction + implant: If the tooth cannot be saved, we extract it cleanly and discuss replacement options including dental implants.
Can a Broken Tooth Be Saved?
In most situations, yes. Modern dentistry can save teeth that would have been pulled a decade ago. The key is getting here quickly. A crack that starts small can spread deeper into the root, and once it reaches below the gum line, the options become more limited.
Even if you think the damage looks minor, it is worth coming in. We see hairline cracks regularly that patients did not think were a big deal, but they were already deep into the tooth structure. A quick exam gives you peace of mind and catches problems before they grow.
Emergency Dental of Garland provides Garland emergency dental care for all types of tooth fractures. Call 254-784-8688 or visit us at 208 S 11th St, Garland, TX 75040.
For a full overview of our 24/7 urgent care, visit our main emergency dentist in Garland, TX page.