Breaking or chipping a tooth can be worrying, particularly if the damage causes pain, sensitivity or a sharp edge that catches your tongue. The damage can range from a small chip to a deeper fracture, and how much it hurts or bleeds varies a great deal. Even if the tooth feels fine, significant damage should be assessed by a dentist. If you have a broken tooth in Bromley, knowing how to protect it and when to seek urgent help makes the next step easier. Bromley Smiles Dental can talk through the injury with you and, if you need an emergency dentist in Bromley, advise on appointment availability.
Quick answer: If you have a broken tooth, rinse gently with warm water, avoid biting on it, keep any fragments and contact a dentist promptly for assessment, even if it does not hurt. Call 999 or go to A&E for a serious head or facial injury or uncontrolled bleeding. A knocked-out adult tooth needs immediate dental advice.
What Should You Do Immediately After Breaking a Tooth?
Try to stay calm and work through these steps:
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clear away blood and debris.
- Control any bleeding. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze where appropriate.
- Collect any broken fragments if you can, and bring them to your appointment.
- Avoid biting down on the damaged tooth.
- Choose soft foods and avoid very hot or cold items if they trigger pain.
- Contact a dentist promptly for advice and assessment.
Please do not try to glue a fragment back onto the tooth, and do not use household adhesives such as superglue. They are not safe for use in the mouth and can make later treatment harder.
Seek emergency medical help: If the injury involved a serious blow to the head or face, or you have bleeding you cannot control, call 999 or go to A&E. Do not wait for a dental appointment.
Broken or chipped a tooth in Bromley?
Call Bromley Smiles Dental on 0203 376 3734 to explain how the injury happened and ask about an emergency appointment.
Book your appointment online
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Please call before travelling to confirm availability. Appointments subject to availability.
Is a Broken Tooth a Dental Emergency?
How urgent it is depends on how much of the tooth is damaged, how much pain you are in, whether there is bleeding, and whether the inner part of the tooth is involved. Only an examination can confirm that.
A small chip without pain
A minor chip with no pain may not need the same urgency as a deep fracture, but it is still worth having checked. Small chips can leave rough edges and may hide a crack that is hard to see.
A broken tooth with severe pain
Severe pain can mean the damage reaches the sensitive inner structures of the tooth. Contact a dentist promptly. Our guide to severe toothache in Bromley explains what else can cause strong tooth pain.
A broken tooth with swelling
Swelling may point to an associated injury or to infection, so it needs prompt assessment. You can read more about infection in our guide to dental abscess symptoms and treatment. If swelling is spreading quickly, or you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, call 999 or go to A&E.
A knocked-out adult tooth
A knocked-out adult tooth needs immediate attention, because the sooner it is dealt with, the better the chance of saving it. In the meantime:
- Hold the tooth by the crown (the white part), never by the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it gently. Do not scrub it or use soap.
- If it is possible and safe, place it back in its socket without force.
- If you cannot put it back, keep it in milk and get dental advice straight away.
Never put a baby tooth back in its socket. Call the practice immediately. If the practice is closed, NHS 111 online can give urgent advice.
A serious facial or jaw injury
A significant blow to the face, a suspected broken jaw, a head injury or bleeding that will not stop may need emergency medical care. Call 999 or go to A&E, and deal with the tooth afterwards.
What Causes a Tooth to Break or Chip?
Teeth can break for many reasons, and poor oral hygiene is not always the cause. Common causes include:
- Biting hard foods or objects, such as ice, boiled sweets or a pen
- Falls, accidents or sports injuries
- Tooth decay that has weakened the tooth
- Large or damaged fillings that no longer support the tooth well
- Grinding or clenching your teeth
- Existing cracks that gradually get worse
Sometimes a tooth breaks on something as ordinary as a slice of toast, because it was already weakened. If you play contact sports, a sports mouth guard can help protect your teeth, and the practice lists these from £200.
Can a Broken Tooth Be Repaired?
In many cases, yes, but the right treatment depends on the tooth and how much damage there is. A dentist can only advise after an examination, and no treatment can be guaranteed to save a tooth in advance.
White filling for a small chip
A suitable small chip may be repaired with a white filling or a similar tooth-coloured bonding material. Whether this is possible depends on the tooth and how much of it has been lost.
Dental crown for a more damaged tooth
When a tooth has lost a larger amount of structure, a dentist may consider a crown to protect and restore it. You can read about the options on our page about crowns and bridges.
Root canal treatment for damage involving the pulp
Deeper damage can affect the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth. In selected cases, root canal treatment may be appropriate if the tooth can be saved. The dentist will explain this after examining the tooth and taking an X-ray where needed.
Extraction if the tooth cannot be restored
Sometimes a tooth is too badly damaged to restore, and removing it is the most appropriate option. This is only decided after a clinical assessment, and the dentist will talk you through the choices, including options for replacing the tooth.
What If a Broken Tooth Does Not Hurt?
A lack of pain does not mean a tooth is undamaged or safe to leave. Cracks can be hard to see and hard to judge without an examination, and a tooth may only start to hurt once the damage has reached the inner part. It is better to have the tooth assessed than to wait for pain to develop.
What Should You Avoid After Breaking a Tooth?
- Do not chew hard foods on the affected side.
- Do not use household glue or superglue.
- Do not repeatedly test the tooth by biting down on it.
- Do not ignore worsening pain or swelling.
- Do not delay urgent care for a knocked-out adult tooth.
- Do not try to file down or reshape the tooth yourself.
How Much Does Broken Tooth Treatment Cost in Bromley?
The cost depends on how severe the fracture is and which treatment is recommended. These are starting prices from the practice fee list:
| Item | Starting price |
| Emergency dental appointment | from £85 |
| Intra oral X-ray | £19 to £22 |
| White filling (one to three surfaces) | from £185 to £295 |
| Edge bonding | from £200 per tooth |
| Root canal treatment | from £495 |
| Porcelain or zirconium crown | from £845 |
| Tooth extraction | from £200 |
The emergency appointment fee and the cost of any treatment are separate starting prices, not a total, and extra treatment may cost more. Your dentist can explain the likely cost once your tooth has been examined. You can see the full list of current prices in the fee guide.
Need to talk through a broken tooth?
Call Bromley Smiles Dental on 0203 376 3734 or book your appointment online.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Appointments subject to availability.
How to Arrange a Broken-Tooth Appointment in Bromley
If you need an emergency dentist in Bromley, call the practice and:
- Describe the damage. Say whether the tooth is chipped, cracked, broken at the gumline or knocked out.
- Explain how it feels. Mention whether it is painful, sensitive or loose.
- Mention any bleeding, swelling or facial injury.
- Ask about appointment availability before you travel.
- Use the online appointment portal if that suits you better.
Bromley Smiles Dental is on the 1st floor, 146 High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1EZ, and is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. It is closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. If you need urgent advice when the practice is closed, NHS 111 online can help, and 999 or A&E is the right route for serious injuries.
Book your broken-tooth appointment
Call Bromley Smiles Dental on 0203 376 3734
Book your appointment online
1st floor, 146 High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1EZ
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Closed Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. Appointments subject to availability.
Conclusion
A broken or chipped tooth can range from a minor annoyance to a situation that needs urgent care. Protect the tooth, keep any fragments, avoid glue and home repairs, and ask a dentist to assess it, even if it does not hurt. Call 999 or go to A&E for serious head or facial injuries, and get immediate dental advice for a knocked-out adult tooth. If you are in Bromley, Orpington, Hayes or Locksbottom, Bromley Smiles Dental can discuss what has happened and check which appointments are available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Broken Teeth
It is a good idea. A small chip may not be urgent, but it can leave a sharp edge or hide a crack that is not obvious. A dentist can check how deep the damage goes and suggest suitable treatment, such as a white filling.
Rinse gently with warm water, avoid biting on the tooth, and follow the label on any suitable pain relief, asking a pharmacist if unsure. Contact a dentist promptly, because pain can mean the damage reaches the inner part of the tooth. If you also have spreading facial swelling or difficulty breathing or swallowing, call 999.
Sometimes. A small chip may be restored with a white filling or bonding material if enough healthy tooth remains. A larger break may need a crown or other treatment, so the dentist will decide after examining the tooth.
Not always. A crown may be considered when a tooth has lost a significant amount of structure and needs more protection than a filling can offer. Your dentist can explain whether a crown is suitable after an examination.
Get dental advice immediately. Hold the tooth by the crown, rinse it gently if dirty, and if it is possible and safe, place it back in its socket without force. If not, keep it in milk. Never reinsert a baby tooth. For a serious head or facial injury, call 999 or go to A&E.
An emergency appointment at Bromley Smiles Dental starts from £85. Treatment is priced separately, for example a white filling from £185 to £295 or root canal treatment from £495, and may cost more. The fee guide lists current prices.
