How Is a Broken Tooth Treated?
💡 In an emergency: Find the fractured fragment, keep it moist in milk and see a dentist as soon as possible.
Types of Tooth Fracture and Treatment Options
1. Enamel Craze Lines
Fine lines on the surface of the enamel. Usually painless and harmless.
- Treatment: No treatment is usually needed. If there is an aesthetic concern, bonding or polishing.
- Cost: 500–1,500 TL
2. Enamel Fracture (Small Chip)
A small piece has broken off the edge or corner of the tooth.
- Treatment: Composite bonding (direct composite repair)
- Time: 1 visit (30–60 minutes)
- Cost: 2,000–4,000 TL
3. Enamel–Dentine Fracture (Moderate)
The fracture has passed through the enamel into the dentine. Sensitivity begins.
- Treatment: Composite bonding or a porcelain inlay/onlay
- Time: 1–2 visits
- Cost: 2,000–8,000 TL
4. Fracture with Pulp Exposure (Large)
The fracture has reached the nerve (pulp). Pain is severe.
- Treatment: Root canal treatment plus a crown
- Time: 2–3 visits
- Cost: 8,000–20,000 TL
5. Root Fracture
The root of the tooth is fractured. In most cases the tooth cannot be saved.
- Treatment: Extraction plus implant or bridge
- Time: Extraction in 1 day; implant 3–6 months
- Cost: 12,000–30,000 TL
6. Split Tooth (Vertical Fracture)
The tooth has split vertically in two.
- Treatment: Usually extraction. Partial preservation only in rare cases.
- Cost: Extraction 500–5,000 TL plus restoration
Emergency Care for a Broken Tooth
Immediate steps if you fracture a tooth:
- Find the fragment — it may be possible to bond it back
- Keep it moist in milk — proteins in milk help preserve the tissue (saliva also works)
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water — controls bleeding and infection
- Apply pressure with gauze if bleeding — for 10 minutes
- Cold compress — on the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling
- Take a painkiller — ibuprofen (400 mg)
- See a dentist as soon as possible — emergency dental care
What Not to Do
- Do not let the fragment dry out (drying reduces the chance of bonding it back)
- Do not use superglue or household adhesives
- Do not chew hard food on the fractured side
- Avoid very hot or very cold food and drinks
Treatment Options Compared
| Treatment | Suitable For | Time | Cost (2026) | Longevity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonding | Small chips, enamel fractures | 1 visit | 2,000–4,000 TL | 5–10 years |
| Inlay/onlay | Moderate fractures | 1–2 visits | 4,000–8,000 TL | 10–15 years |
| Crown | Large fractures | 2 visits | 3,000–12,000 TL | 15–20 years |
| Root canal + crown | Pulp exposure | 2–3 visits | 8,000–20,000 TL | 15–20 years |
| Laminate veneer | Small fractures in front teeth | 2 visits | 7,000–15,000 TL | 10–15 years |
| Extraction + implant | Root fracture | 3–6 months | 12,000–30,000 TL | 20+ years |
Preventing a Broken Tooth
- If you clench or grind, wear a night guard
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sport
- Avoid biting directly on hard items (nuts, ice, boiled sweets)
- Stop habits like chewing pens
- Keep regular check-ups — cracks are picked up early
References
- Diangelis AJ, Andreasen JO, Ebeleseder KA, et al. International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: 1. Fractures and luxations of permanent teeth. Dent Traumatol. 2012;28(1):2–12. PubMed
- Ahovuo-Saloranta A, Forss H, Walsh T, et al. Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;7(7):CD001830. PubMed
- World Health Organization. Global Oral Health Status Report: Towards Universal Health Coverage for Oral Health by 2030. Geneva: WHO; 2022. who.int
Have you broken a tooth? At Maltepe Derya Dental Clinic we can see you urgently and plan the most suitable treatment. Please get in touch.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a specialist for decisions about your oral and dental health.
