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Cracked and chipped teeth in Kallangur

Broken Tooth Repair in Kallangur

Chipped, cracked or broken tooth? We can help

A broken tooth can happen in a second: a bite of something hard, a fall at the park, a ball to the mouth on the weekend. Whether it is a small chip on a front tooth, a cracked molar that hurts when you bite, or a filling or crown that has come out, broken tooth repair at Kallangur Dental Surgery starts with working out how deep the damage goes. Then we match the fix to it, from simple bonding to a crown.

Painful or large breaks prioritised when you call
Repairs matched to the size of the damage

Book an Appointment (07) 3886 0933

In pain? Act now

Broken a tooth? Call us today

A cracked or broken tooth can get worse quickly, especially if it hurts. Call (07) 3886 0933 and we will book the earliest appointment we can, with painful breaks prioritised. QLD Health emergency vouchers and DVA cards are accepted.

Call (07) 3886 0933 Book an Appointment

Painful breaks prioritised each day
X-ray check of how deep the crack runs
Bonding, crowns and root canal in the clinic
HICAPS claiming for all health funds

Accredited & compliant

Father phoning the dentist while his teenage daughter holds a cloth to her mouth after breaking a tooth

Is it urgent?

Is a chipped tooth an emergency?

Not every chipped tooth needs to be seen the same day, but some breaks do. Call us straight away if:

the tooth is very painful, or you can see pink or red in the centre of the break (the nerve may be exposed)
a large piece has broken off, or the tooth feels loose or pushed out of position
your lip, tongue or gum is cut and bleeding
a whole tooth has been knocked out (hold it by the crown, not the root, keep it in milk and call immediately)

A small chip on the edge of a tooth is not usually urgent, but book in within a week or two. Even without pain, a chipped or cracked tooth is weaker and can break further.

Dentist pointing to a crack line in a back tooth on an intraoral camera photo at Kallangur Dental Surgery

Chip or crack?

Chipped tooth vs cracked tooth

A chipped tooth has lost a piece of enamel, often on a front tooth or the pointed cusp of a back tooth. Many chips do not hurt unless they are deep enough to expose the layer beneath, when you may notice sensitivity to hot and cold.

A cracked tooth is a split that can stay in the enamel or run down towards the root. The classic sign is a sharp pain when you bite and let go, especially on grainy food, that is hard to pin to one tooth. Cracks tend to get worse with chewing, so they usually need attention sooner than a chip.

Common causes include falls and car or bike accidents, contact sport without a mouthguard, grinding and clenching, chewing ice or opening packets with your teeth, and teeth weakened by large old fillings, decay or acidic food and drink.

Dentist's gloved hands checking a porcelain crown that has come out, before re-cementing

Lost a filling or crown?

Lost filling, crown, inlay or onlay

Fillings, crowns, inlays and onlays can loosen or break with age, new decay underneath, or a hard bite. When one comes out, the tooth underneath is often sensitive to air and temperature and is more open to decay and infection.

Keep the filling or crown if you can find it, rinse it and bring it in. If a crown is undamaged and the tooth beneath is healthy, it can often be cleaned and re-cemented. If it has broken, or there is decay under it, we will talk about a new filling or crown. In the meantime, a temporary dental cement from the chemist can protect the tooth, but do not use household glue.

Woman rinsing her mouth with warm water at home, a cold pack and dental wax ready on the vanity

Before your visit

First aid for a broken tooth

These steps can make you more comfortable until we see you. They do not fix the tooth.

Please note: this is general information. Speak to your pharmacist or GP before taking any medicine if you have a health condition or take other medication.

Rinse gently with warm water, and apply a cold pack to your cheek if there is swelling.
Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or orthodontic wax so it does not cut your tongue. Please do not file it down yourself, as that weakens the enamel.
Chew on the other side and avoid very hot, cold or hard food.
Take over-the-counter pain relief only as directed on the label.

How it works

How is a broken tooth fixed?

The repair depends on how deep the damage goes. A chip in the enamel is a very different job from a crack running towards the root. This is what a dentist does for a broken tooth at Kallangur Dental Surgery, from your first phone call to the finished repair.

Call and tell us what broke

Ring (07) 3886 0933 and describe what happened: a chip, a crack you can feel, a piece that came away, or a filling or crown that fell out. Pain, bleeding or a large break is seen as a priority. Keep any broken piece or crown in a clean container and bring it with you.

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Checking how far the damage goes

We look at the tooth under magnification, test your bite, and take an X-ray to see whether the crack reaches the nerve or the root. Fine craze lines in the enamel are common and harmless; a crack that flexes when you chew is not, and treating it early can stop it splitting further.

Choosing the repair

Small chips are usually rebuilt with tooth-coloured bonding in a single visit. Larger breaks and cracked back teeth are often protected with a crown that holds the tooth together. If the nerve is exposed or infected, root canal treatment comes first. A lost filling or crown can sometimes be re-cemented if it is intact.

Protecting it afterwards

Many cracks start with grinding, chewing ice or biting hard objects. We may suggest a night guard if you clench, and a sports mouthguard for contact sport, so the repair and your other teeth last.

Related care

Repair options for chipped and broken teeth

From the smallest chip to a tooth that has split, these are the repairs our Kallangur dentists use most, roughly in order of how much tooth is affected.

Dental Bonding

Tooth-coloured composite resin is shaped onto a chipped front tooth and hardened with a light. Often done in one visit with little or no drilling.

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Dental Crowns

A crown covers and holds together a cracked or heavily filled tooth, protecting it from splitting further when you chew.

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Root Canal Treatment

When a crack or break reaches the nerve, root canal treatment removes the inflamed pulp so the tooth can be kept and crowned.

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Tooth Extraction

If a crack runs down through the root, the tooth may not be saveable. We remove it gently and go through replacement options with you.

Learn more

Good to know

Cracked or Chipped Tooth - frequently asked

Can a cracked tooth heal on its own?

No. Unlike a broken bone, tooth enamel cannot grow back together. A crack can let bacteria in and tends to spread with chewing, so what starts as a small crack can reach the nerve or split the tooth. Treating it early improves the chance of keeping the tooth.

How much does it cost to fix a chipped tooth?

It depends on the size and position of the chip. Smoothing or bonding a small chip costs much less than a crown or root canal treatment for a deep break. We examine the tooth and give you a written estimate before starting, and your health fund may cover part of it.

Bonding, crown or veneer for a broken tooth?

Bonding suits small to moderate chips, especially on front teeth, and can usually be done in one visit. A crown is often the better choice for a cracked back tooth or one with a large filling, because it holds the tooth together. A porcelain veneer can suit a chipped front tooth when you also want to change its shape or colour. We will explain which fits your tooth and why.

What does a dentist do for a broken tooth?

First we check for pain, infection and how deep the break goes, usually with an X-ray. Then we repair it in the way that suits the damage: bonding, a filling, a crown, root canal treatment if the nerve is involved, or extraction if the tooth cannot be saved. We talk you through the options and cost before treatment.

My filling or crown fell out. What should I do?

Keep the filling or crown if you have it, rinse it and bring it to your appointment. Call us to book in promptly, as the exposed tooth can be sensitive and is at risk of breaking or decaying. A temporary dental cement from the pharmacy can cover it for a short time.

Can a hairline crack in my tooth become a problem?

Many fine lines are craze lines in the enamel only and are harmless. A true crack can deepen over time, particularly if you grind your teeth. If you notice a new line, or pain when biting, have it checked so we can tell the difference.

In pain? Act now