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Broken or cracked tooth: what to do now

Usually not an emergency, but it needs a dentist. Start with the first aid below, then check if it can wait.

Once a dentist has checked it, cover it with click in veneers. Same day at our clinic from £399, or by post from £199.

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  • Made in our UK lab
  • GDC registered technicians

First aid for a broken tooth

Get help now if
  • Bad pain or swelling: your dentist now, or NHS 24 on 111.
  • Adult tooth knocked out: hold the crown, not the root. Rinse briefly in milk if dirty.
  • Push it back in if you can, or keep it in milk. Get to a dentist within the hour.
  • Bleeding that won't stop, or a serious face injury: A&E or 999.
Right now
  • Keep any broken piece in milk or saliva. A dentist may glue it back.
  • Rinse gently with warm water. Press clean gauze on any bleeding.
  • Paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed, as the pack says.
  • Chew on the other side. Avoid very hot or cold food.
In the next few days
  • Small chip, no pain: book a normal appointment.
  • Don't go to your GP: they can't do dental work.
  • Sharp edge cutting your tongue? Tell the practice when you call.

Head injury or confusion: 999 or A&E. Trouble breathing or swallowing: 999. General guidance, not a diagnosis.

Signs you should see a dentist today

Tick any that apply. Three or more, or one that feels severe, means call a dentist today.

0of 8 ticked

Tick any that sound like you.

Types of cracked tooth and the usual fix

Craze lines are tiny cracks in the enamel only. They rarely hurt and often need nothing. A fractured cusp is a piece of the chewing surface breaking off, often by an old filling; a filling or crown usually protects it.

A cracked tooth has a crack running towards the root. If it reaches the nerve, a dentist may suggest root canal treatment and a crown. A split tooth usually cannot be saved whole, and a vertical root fracture often means the tooth comes out.

The NHS says a dentist may glue the piece back, fill it, crown it, or do root canal treatment if the nerve is exposed. Lost the piece? They can build the tooth up with tooth coloured filling.

My front tooth broke in half: what happens next

  1. Right now
    Save the piece

    Follow the first aid steps above.

  2. Today
    Call a dentist

    Ring your practice. Not registered? See your health board's advice on NHS inform.

  3. Appointment
    Check and repair

    Maybe an X ray, then the repair that suits the break.

  4. Weeks later
    Watch the colour

    A knocked tooth can slowly darken if the nerve dies. If it does, go back to your dentist.

What we cannot do for a broken tooth

We are a dental lab, not a dentist. For repairs, see your dentist or use the NHS routes above.

  • We cannot repair, glue, fill or crown a broken tooth
  • We cannot treat pain, infection or a loose tooth
  • We cannot tell you if a crack is serious
  • We make nothing for a tooth a dentist has not checked

Covering a broken front tooth, once checked

Repairs can take a while: waiting for a crown, saving for private work, or living with a checked tooth that still looks chipped or dark.

Once a dentist has checked it, click in veneers can cover it for looks. They are thin, removable and clip over your own teeth. Nothing is drilled, filed or glued, so your dentist can carry on with any plan.

They are cosmetic, not a repair. Not suitable with loose teeth or severe gum problems. Most people take them out for meals and to sleep. They usually last 6 to 18 months, depending on the person.

Broken front teeth, covered once checked

Before: a customer at our clinic with broken front teethBefore
After: the same customer later that dayAfter: Click in veneers
Click in veneersPrices and booking are below.

Same day click in veneers at our clinic. Results vary from person to person.

Click in veneers prices

By post, made in 3 days once we receive your impressions. Same day at our clinic in about 4 hours. 18 or over.

A woman clicking in her veneersOur click in veneers
Same day at our clinic
£399one arch, £599 both
  • Ready in about 4 hours at our clinic
  • Impressions taken with our team
  • Klarna Pay in 3 at our clinic
Book a time
By post
£199one arch, £299 both
  • Made in 3 days once we receive your impressions
  • Impression kit sent to your door
  • Made in our UK lab
Order by post

£25 to book a same day visit, taken off your total and refunded if you cancel 24 hours or more before. Klarna Pay in 3 at our clinic: 18 or over, subject to approval. Late fees may apply. Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may affect your ability to get credit.

Questions people ask

Something else? Send us a message.

Is a broken tooth an emergency?

NHS inform says usually not; it can wait for working hours. It is urgent only with the signs in the first aid box above.

What should I do if my tooth broke off at the gum?

Follow the first aid steps and call your dentist today. A break at the gum line often needs more than a filling.

Can a cracked tooth heal on its own?

No. Enamel does not grow back and a crack can spread. Tiny craze lines may need nothing, but a crack that hurts when you bite should be checked.

Why does my cracked tooth hurt when I bite?

Biting can flex the crack and irritate the nerve. Tell your dentist exactly which tooth hurts and when, as cracks can be hard to see.

How much does it cost to fix a broken tooth on the NHS?

It depends on the fix. Fillings and root canal treatment sit in a lower band than crowns. Check the current bands on nhs.uk or NHS inform.

Should I use a temporary filling kit on a broken tooth?

Pharmacy dental wax can cover a sharp edge for a few days. Don't build the tooth up with a repair kit; see a dentist.

Once it is checked, smile again.

Click in veneers, made in our UK lab. Same day at our clinic near Glasgow, or by post to your door.

About this guide

Written by the team at our UK dental lab, where GDC registered technicians make every appliance. We are a dental lab, not a dentist: we make cosmetic and protective appliances and cannot diagnose or treat dental problems. If you are unsure, see a dentist first.

Written by the Venneir lab team. Updated 12 Nov 2026.

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