My Child Chipped a Tooth, Now What?

A chipped tooth can happen due to a fall or a bump in the mouth. When a small piece of a tooth breaks off it is considered a chip. When a large piece of a tooth breaks off, it may be a fractured tooth. The size of the tooth and whether or not your child is experiencing any pain will determine whether or not emergency treatment is necessary. Here’s what you need to do if your child has a chipped tooth. 

Small Chip 

If your child chipped a tooth during regular office hours, contact us and we will see you the same day. If the chip occurs after hours and it is small, it can typically wait until regular office hours. 

Treatment for a small chip may involve smoothing the tooth or reshaping it with composite material. The tooth may need a crown depending on the size and location of the chip. In some cases a root canal may be needed if the tooth shows signs of internal damage. 

Fractured Tooth 

A large chip or a fractured tooth needs immediate treatment, even after hours, especially if your child is in pain. The tooth is at a high risk of infection if the chip or fracture goes deeper than the enamel. The sooner the tooth is treated, the greater the chance that it can be saved. 

Treatment for a large chip or fractured tooth is typically a crown, and possibly also a root canal depending on the situation. 

Chipped Baby Tooth vs Permanent Tooth 

A baby tooth that is chipped may be treated differently than a permanent tooth. If the baby tooth is ready to fall out soon, it may not require any treatment. If the tooth is not yet ready to be shed, it will most likely be patched until then. In some cases the tooth may be extracted and a space maintainer used to hold the place open for the permanent tooth to come in when it is ready. 

A permanent tooth will need to be treated in order to be saved. A crown is more likely to be placed on a permanent tooth that is chipped or fractured to provide long term restoration. It is not recommended to extract a permanent tooth unless the damage is too great to save the tooth. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Chipped Teeth 

Should I save the piece(s) of the tooth that broke off? 

If you are able, save the piece or pieces of the tooth that have chipped or broken off. These may be able to be put back together to patch the tooth. 

What should we do while we wait for treatment? 

If your child is in pain, it can help to administer over the counter pain medication while you wait for your appointment. You can also apply ice to the area to reduce swelling of the soft tissues. 

Contact Valley Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 

In case of a chipped tooth or other dental emergency, call 201-746-4626 immediately. During regular office hours we will find time to see you as soon as possible. After hours please follow the instructions on our voicemail and someone will contact you shortly with further instructions. 

For non-emergency dental situations, please contact us to learn more and schedule an appointment.