What to do next
Explain when and how the damage happened, whether the tooth hurts and if there is bleeding or swelling. If you have a fragment, ask the clinic how to bring it safely. Serious facial injury or uncontrolled bleeding needs emergency medical help.
When to seek emergency medical help
If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, serious facial injury, uncontrolled bleeding or rapidly worsening swelling, seek emergency medical help. Do not wait for a website callback.
Tell the dentist what you’ve noticed
- Did the tooth break during an injury, chewing or another activity?
- Is there pain, sensitivity, swelling or bleeding?
- Do you have a fragment of the tooth?
- Did a tooth break, or has an existing filling or crown come away?
Related treatment information
The appropriate treatment depends on the findings. These pages explain possible approaches, rather than diagnosing your symptoms.
Guides for the next decision
Patient guideCrown, filling or monitoring? What affects the restoration decisionThe visible chip or cavity is only part of the picture. Learn what the dentist evaluates before recommending repair, coverage or review.Patient guideRoot canal or extraction? What shapes the decisionA tooth cannot be judged from symptoms alone. Learn which findings, follow-up treatment and replacement questions belong in the conversation.
General information, not an individual diagnosis. Further reading: NHS: chipped, broken or cracked tooth.