Cracking or chipping a tooth is unsettling, and it almost always happens at the worst possible time. Here is what to do in the first hour, how to tell whether it is urgent, and how it is fixed.
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We keep room in the day for urgent problems and can often see you the same day.
A few simple steps early on protect the tooth and keep you more comfortable.
Two things to skip: do not bite down to test whether it hurts, and do not rest an aspirin against the gum.
Cracks can be obvious or surprisingly hard to pin down. The common signs:
Treatment depends on the stage. We start every gum case with a proper assessment: pocket depth measurements at each tooth and, where needed, x-rays to check bone levels.
The right fix depends on the type of crack and how deep it goes. Dr Rostkier assesses each tooth on its own and leans towards the most conservative option that will hold.
A chipped front tooth is mostly about how your smile looks and is often rebuilt with bonding, or with a veneer for a longer-lasting result. A cracked back tooth takes the heaviest chewing load, so it more often needs an onlay or crown to hold it together and keep the crack from spreading.
A crack does not heal, and it tends to travel. The tooth that needs a simple onlay now can need a root canal in a few months, and can become unsavable after that. Acting early almost always means simpler, cheaper treatment and a much better chance of keeping the tooth.
If you grind or clench, a custom night guard takes the load off while you sleep. A mouthguard is worth wearing for contact sport. Going easy on ice and hard nuts, and not using your teeth to open things, spares them the sort of force that starts a crack.
A cracked tooth is stressful, and a rushed appointment does not help. Dr Rostkier has looked after Balwyn families for more than 25 years, keeps appointments unhurried so there is time to explain what is going on and what your choices are, and holds room in the day for urgent problems so you are not left waiting in pain. Where a tooth can be saved with a smaller repair, that is the starting point.
No. Unlike a bone, a tooth cannot repair a crack, which is why even a small one is worth checking. Catching it early usually means a simpler fix.
Not always. A small chip with no pain can wait for a normal appointment. Severe pain, swelling, a loose tooth, or a tooth broken down to the gum should be seen straight away.
A painless chip can generally wait a week or two, but not indefinitely, because cracks grow. Anything with sensitivity or pain should be seen within a few days.
No. DIY kits, and filing a sharp edge down yourself, can damage the tooth further and do not fix the underlying problem. The most to do at home is cover a sharp edge with dental wax until you can be seen. A lasting repair needs a dentist.
It depends on the repair. Bonding for a small chip is at the lower end, while an onlay or crown for a larger break is more involved. Crowns in Melbourne typically range from about $1,200 to $2,500. You receive a written, itemised estimate before any treatment begins.
Yes. Bonding, onlays, crowns, and veneers all use tooth-coloured materials matched to your other teeth. On a front tooth, the aim is a repair no one else can spot.
Most cracked teeth can be saved if they are seen early. The deeper a crack runs towards or into the root, the harder it becomes, which is the main reason not to wait.
Good daily home care plus a regular professional clean prevents gum disease in most people. When risk factors stack up, the rules get stricter.
You do not have to work out how serious it is on your own. A quick look will tell you where you stand and what your options are, with no pressure attached. Same-day appointments are often available for urgent problems.
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