What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth

There are many reasons why a chipped tooth can occur, from an accident to merely chewing. If a chipped tooth occurs, professional dental care is necessary to receive proper evaluation and treatment. It is essential to seek prompt treatment to prevent the problem from worsening.

If you have a chipped tooth, do not hesitate to seek treatment. Huntington Dental Excellence in South Pasadena and the surrounding area is here to help. Call us today at (626) 427-0085 to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services.

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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.”

“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.”

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 take certain steps immediately after chipping a tooth to address pain and protect the tooth and the inside of the mouth from further injury. According to the American Dental Association, people should rinse their mouths with warm water right away to clean them.

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.

What to Do When Children Chip a Tooth

It can be especially nerve-wracking when a child chips a tooth, particularly if it causes them a great deal of anxiety or discomfort. The most important thing that a parent can do when a child chips a tooth is to comfort them. This may mean not addressing the chipped tooth for several minutes until they have calmed down. After getting a clearer visualization of the chip, try to locate the fragment and make sure it is not posing a risk to the child’s airway. According to the Cleveland Clinic, one may be able to preserve the chipped piece of tooth in cold milk or a specific salt solution.

For children, it is important to follow the same steps that adults are advised to take when they chip a tooth. Control any pain or bleeding first, and then contact their dentist immediately. Dentists are able to repair chipped teeth in children in much the same way that they repair teeth in adults, so it is important to get follow-up care as soon as possible.

“The most important thing that a parent can do when a child chips a tooth is, first, comfort them.”

“The most appropriate treatment for a chipped tooth depends on the size of the chip, the location of the damage, and whether the inner portion of the tooth has been affected.”

Repairing a Chipped Tooth

The most appropriate treatment for a chipped tooth depends on the size of the chip, the location of the damage, and whether the inner portion of the tooth has been affected. After carefully examining your tooth, we will recommend the most conservative treatment that restores both its strength and appearance. In some cases, a small chip can be smoothed and polished or repaired with tooth-colored dental bonding. Larger chips may be restored with a porcelain veneer or a custom dental crown to protect the tooth while creating a natural-looking result.

If the injury extends deep into the tooth and affects the dental pulp, root canal therapy may be recommended to preserve the tooth and prevent infection. Although our goal is always to save your natural tooth whenever possible, an extraction may be necessary if the damage is too extensive to repair. During your appointment, we will explain your treatment options, answer your questions, and help you choose the solution that best supports your long-term oral health.

Maintaining a Treated Chipped Tooth

After treatment for a chipped tooth, patients must maintain a regular oral care routine. This maintenance includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. Patients should also follow all after-care instructions to take care of the repaired tooth and protect it from further damage.

Other maintenance tips include not biting down on the treated tooth and refraining from chewing on hard foods and objects. Following the repair, patients should also attend all follow-up appointments and schedule regular dental check-ups. These appointments will allow our dentist to check the repair and protect patients’ overall oral health to prevent a chip from happening again.

“After treatment for a chipped tooth, patients must maintain a regular oral care routine.”

Questions Answered on This Page

Q. What steps should happen after chipping a tooth?

Q. How is a child’s chipped tooth different from an adult’s?

Q. What methods are available to repair a chipped tooth?

Q. How should a treated chipped tooth be maintained?

Q. How should I stay calm if I chip my tooth?

Q. What should I do if my child chips a tooth?

People Also Ask

Q. What is dental restoration?

Q. Do I have a cracked tooth?

Q. What should one do for a toothache when waiting to see a dentist?

Q. Should I visit the ER after a dental emergency?

Q. How often should people wear their mouth guards?

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South Pasadena, CA 91030
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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 may 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, the situation constitutes a dental emergency. You should contact your dentist as soon as possible to maximize the chance of preserving 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.

Dental Emergency Terminology

Abscess

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that forms in the tooth root from a bacterial infection.

Facial Cellulitis

Facial cellulitis is a condition in which an infection from an abscess or plaque in the teeth causes pain and spreads throughout the face.

Impacted Wisdom Tooth

An impacted wisdom tooth is a tooth that does not erupt from the gums properly that can cause pain and become infected without professional extraction.

Irreversible Pulpitis

Irreversible pulpitis is when the pain in the tooth occurs spontaneously or continues to hurt after the patient removes the hot or cold substance that was causing the pain. Normal pulpitis will cease hurting directly after removing what is causing the pain.

Lateral Luxation

Lateral luxation is the displacement of a tooth that moves it in the wrong direction while it is still attached to the gums.

Pericoronitis

Pericoronitis is the inflammation of soft tissues surrounding a tooth that does not fully erupt from the gums and causes pain.

Tooth Avulsion

Tooth avulsion is when the tooth completely displaces from the socket due to an accident or other health issues. We can replant the tooth if the patient seeks immediate care.

Tooth Fracture

A tooth fracture can result from multiple sources, including an accidental elbow to the face during a sports game, biting on something really hard, falling face first, and more.

Call Us Today

If you have a chipped tooth, do not panic. Our team at Huntington Dental Excellence can help restore a chipped tooth’s function and appearance. Call us today at (626) 427-0085 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.

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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

About our business

Huntington Dental Excellence

  • Huntington Dental Excellence was established in 1987.
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  • We serve patients from the following cities: South Pasadena, Pasadena, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Highland Park, San Gabriel, San Marino, Rosemead, Altadena, Temple City and Los Angeles
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