Cheap chipped tooth repair

A small painless chip can often be repaired with tooth-coloured composite resin, while a larger or painful fracture may need a different restoration.

The repair depends on how much enamel and dentine are missing and whether the pulp is exposed. A dentist examines the bite and crack pattern, then may smooth a tiny edge, bond composite resin, reshape the tooth, or use a crown when the remaining structure needs more coverage.

Keep the fragment if one broke off, avoid biting hard foods with that tooth, and protect any sharp edge from the cheek or tongue. Do not glue a fragment back yourself; a clinician must check for hidden cracks and decay before choosing the least extensive suitable repair.

Seek prompt care for severe pain, sensitivity that lingers, bleeding from inside the tooth, swelling, a loose tooth, or a chip caused by facial trauma. A fracture extending below the gum or into the pulp needs timely assessment.

Ask whether the chip is limited to enamel, whether the pulp is involved, how the bite will be checked, which material is appropriate, and what could make the repair break or stain.