Broke a tooth? Here’s what to do.

A broken tooth, whether it’s a small chip or a bigger break, needs prompt attention even if it doesn’t hurt yet. Follow the steps below, then call (425) 776-8353.

Call Now: (425) 776-8353 Book an Urgent Visit Online

Same-day visits when possible

We accept most PPO plans

Broken tooth: what to do right now

1 Rinse your mouth with warm water.

2 If it’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure with gauze or a clean cloth.

3 Hold a cold compress against your face to keep swelling down.

4 If a piece broke off, save it in a small container of milk.

5 Avoid chewing on that side until you’re seen.

6 Call us.

A pickleball smash in the mouth while playing at Seaview Park, a bike spill, or biting into something harder than expected: broken teeth happen to careful people too.

Is a broken tooth always an emergency?

Not always, and knowing which situation you’re in helps you know how fast to move:

Small chip, no pain: Call to schedule within the next few days.

Broken with exposed nerve (sharp pain with air or cold): Call today.

Broken at the gumline: Call immediately.

Severe pain or visible swelling: Call immediately. Our emergency dentist in Edmonds will tell you how urgently to come in.

If the tooth came out completely rather than just breaking, follow the steps for a knocked-out tooth — guide coming soon instead: the first hour matters a lot more there.

Call Now: (425) 776-8353

What can you do to fix it?

What we recommend depends on how much of the tooth is affected:

Minor chip

Often smoothed or repaired with dental bonding in a single visit.

Larger break

Usually rebuilt with a dental crown once the tooth is stable.

Break at the nerve

May need a root canal first to save the tooth, then a crown.

Broken below the gumline or at the root

Sometimes the tooth can’t be saved, and an extraction followed by a dental implant is the more predictable path.

We’ll examine the tooth, explain your options in plain language, and tell you the cost before anything moves forward.

Common questions

No. Enamel doesn’t grow back, and a rough or cracked edge tends to get worse, not better, the longer it’s left alone.

It depends on the damage: a bonding repair costs less than a crown, and a crown costs less than a root canal plus crown. We’ll give you an exact price after we take a look, and most PPO plans help cover part of it.

Some breaks are quiet at first but still need attention. Waiting can let the crack spread or let bacteria reach the nerve, turning a simple fix into a bigger one.

Broken tooth? Call us.

Tell us what happened and we’ll get you in as quickly as we can.

Call Now: (425) 776-8353

Can’t talk right now? Book an Urgent Visit Online.

We’re at 7631 212th St SW #112-C in Edmonds, open Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Call Now: (425) 776-8353