If you've chipped, cracked or broken a tooth, contact a dentist and ask for an appointment. The NHS says this is usually not serious and a dentist should be able to treat it. If a piece has broken off, keep it in milk or saliva and take it with you, as the dentist may be able to stick it back on.
Get urgent help if...
- You have a serious injury to your face or jaw. Go to A&E or call 999.
- You have heavy bleeding from your mouth that won't stop. Go to A&E or call 999.
- An injury to your head or face has made you lose consciousness, vomit or have double vision. Go to A&E or call 999.
- You have severe swelling of your mouth, lips, throat or neck and are having difficulty breathing or opening 1 or both eyes. Go to A&E or call 999.
- You've injured your teeth, or have severe pain that isn't helped by paracetamol or ibuprofen. Ask a dentist for an urgent appointment or call NHS 111.
- A whole adult tooth has been knocked out. The NHS says you should be offered emergency dental care within 1 hour, or as soon as possible.
Common causes
The NHS lists a cracked or damaged tooth as one of the common causes of toothache. It also lists injuries to the teeth among the reasons to ask for an urgent dental appointment.
The NHS toothache guidance says to see a dentist if you have pain when you bite, or toothache that lasts more than 2 days. Either can be a sign that a damaged tooth needs looking at.
What you can do now
- If a piece of tooth has come off, put it in milk or saliva. For your own tooth, you can spit into a clean container. For a child, have them spit into a container.
- Take the piece with you to the dentist.
- For pain, the NHS toothache advice is to take ibuprofen or paracetamol, without going over the recommended dose. A pharmacist can advise you.
- Eat soft foods and try not to chew on the damaged tooth.
- Avoid food and drink that is sugary, very hot or very cold.
Don't go to your GP for a broken tooth. The NHS is clear that GPs can't give you dental treatment.
How to get seen quickly
Call your dentist. If they're closed, their answerphone may tell you what to do.
If you don't have a dentist, or can't get an emergency appointment, call NHS 111. They can advise you on what to do. You can also look for practices offering urgent appointments on our emergency dentist pages.
The NHS says you should be offered urgent dental treatment within 24 hours or 7 days, depending on your symptoms. You may have to pay for an emergency appointment.
What a dentist may do
The right repair depends on how much of the tooth is damaged. The NHS lists these options:
- Gluing the broken fragment back on.
- A filling to repair a smaller chip or break.
- A crown, which is a cap that covers the damaged tooth. Our crowns and bridges guide explains more.
- Root canal treatment if the tooth is badly broken and the nerve is exposed.
If a front tooth is chipped and the damage is mainly about appearance, some practices offer cosmetic dentistry options. Ask your dentist which repairs suit your tooth.
NHS or private
Repairs such as fillings, crowns and root canal treatment are available on the NHS when they're clinically needed. Most adults pay a set charge for each course of treatment, and if you need treatments from different bands you pay the highest band. Our NHS dentist guide covers how the bands work.
A private dentist may be able to see you sooner if you can't get an NHS appointment. Private fees vary by practice, so ask for a written cost before you agree to treatment.
Sources: NHS: Chipped, broken or cracked tooth, NHS: Knocked-out tooth, NHS: Toothache, NHS: How to find an NHS dentist in an emergency, NHS: Understanding NHS dental charges.
Last reviewed: 6 October 2026. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried, contact a dentist or NHS 111.