What Counts as a Broken Tooth?
Tooth damage falls on a spectrum, and each type has a different urgency level:
- Minor chip — a small piece of enamel broken off. Often painless.
- Moderate fracture — a visible crack or piece missing that may feel sharp or sensitive to temperature.
- Deep break or split tooth — the crack extends into the dentin or pulp. Usually painful and needs immediate attention.
- Cracked cusp — the pointed part of a back tooth breaks, common after biting something hard.
Even a tooth that looks fine on the outside can have a hidden vertical crack. If chewing triggers a sharp pain that disappears as soon as you stop biting, that's a classic sign of a cracked tooth.
What to Do Right Now
- Rinse with warm water to clean the area.
- If there's bleeding, apply gauze with firm pressure for 10 minutes.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling.
- Save any broken pieces in milk or saline and bring them to your appointment.
- Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed. Avoid aspirin on the gum.
- Call us at (509) 933-3300.
How We Repair Broken Teeth
Dental bonding. For small chips, we apply a tooth-colored composite resin, shape it, and cure it with a light. Usually done in one visit. Looks natural.
Porcelain veneers. For chips on front teeth where cosmetics matter, a thin porcelain shell covers the damage. Two visits, longer-lasting than bonding.
Dental crown. When too much tooth structure is missing to bond or veneer, a crown covers the entire tooth. Modern crowns are made from zirconia or porcelain and match your surrounding teeth.
Root canal + crown. If the break exposes the nerve or causes deep pain, we clean out the infected pulp, seal the canal, and cover with a crown.
Extraction + replacement. In rare cases, a tooth cracked below the gumline can't be saved. We'll discuss options like a dental implant or bridge.
When It's an Emergency
Call immediately if you have:
- Severe pain that won't subside with over-the-counter medication
- Visible bleeding from the tooth
- A large piece of tooth missing
- Swelling in the face or jaw
- A tooth that's loose after the injury