Broken Tooth? Here’s What To Do Right Now
You bit into something hard, took an elbow to the mouth, or just felt something pop — and now there’s a piece of your tooth missing. Your heart is racing. You’re not sure if this is serious. Take a breath. We’re going to walk you through exactly what to do, right now.
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First — Don’t Panic. Do These Things Immediately.
A broken tooth is one of the most common dental emergencies we see at Prime Emergency Dental. Whether it’s a small chip or a major break, the steps you take in the next few minutes can make a significant difference in what we’re able to do for you when you come in.
We serve patients across Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Bothell, Marysville, and Shoreline — and we offer same-day emergency appointments because broken teeth don’t wait for business hours.
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Your Step-by-Step Action Plan
Follow these steps in order from the moment your tooth breaks until you’re sitting in our dental chair.
Step 1 — Find and Save the Broken Piece
If you can find the broken fragment, rinse it gently with water and place it in a small container of milk or saliva. Don’t wrap it in tissue — it needs to stay moist. Bring it with you when you come in.
Step 2 — Rinse Your Mouth With Warm Water
Gently rinse with warm — not hot — water to clean the area and remove any debris. This also helps you assess how much of the tooth is actually gone.
Step 3 — Control Any Bleeding
If there’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean piece of gauze or a damp tea bag for 10–15 minutes. If bleeding doesn’t stop, that’s an emergency — call us immediately.
Step 4 — Protect the Tooth With Dental Wax
If the broken tooth has a sharp edge that’s cutting your tongue or cheek, cover it with a small piece of dental wax or sugar-free gum. You can find dental wax at most pharmacies.
Step 5 — Manage Pain Carefully
Take ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed on the packaging. Do not put aspirin directly on the tooth or gum — this can damage the tissue. Avoid very hot, cold, or sweet foods until you’re seen.
Step 6 — Call Us Right Away
Don’t wait until tomorrow. Call Prime Emergency Dental at (425) 864-7600. We’re open 7 days a week, 9AM–8PM, and we will get you in the same day.
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How Serious Is Your Break? Know the Difference.
Not all broken teeth are the same. Here’s how to read the severity of your situation.
🚨 CALL US RIGHT NOW:
💥 Tooth Broken to the Root
If your tooth is broken at or below the gumline, this is a serious emergency. You may be in intense pain or surprisingly little — either way, call immediately.
🔴 Exposed Nerve or Pulp
If you can see the pinkish inner part of your tooth, or you have extreme sensitivity to air and touch, the nerve is exposed. This needs same-day treatment.
🩸 Break With Heavy Bleeding
Significant bleeding that doesn’t stop after 15 minutes means the break has damaged surrounding tissue. Do not wait on this.
⚠️ COME IN TODAY:
⚡ Large Chunk Missing
A break where a large portion of the tooth is gone leaves you vulnerable to infection and further damage. Come in the same day if at all possible.
🦷 Cracked Tooth With Pain
A crack that causes sharp pain when biting means the fracture likely extends into the dentin or deeper. Don’t eat on that side and call us.
✅ CAN WAIT UNTIL MORNING:
🔹 Minor Chip, No Pain
A tiny chip with smooth edges and zero pain can usually wait until the next morning — but still needs to be looked at and smoothed to prevent cuts.
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“A broken tooth that feels fine today can become infected, cracked to the root, or lost entirely within days if left untreated.”
— Prime Emergency Dental Care Team
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The Do’s and Don’ts After a Broken Tooth
✅ DO THESE THINGS:
✓ Rinse gently with warm water
✓ Save the broken tooth fragment
✓ Apply dental wax to sharp edges
✓ Take ibuprofen for pain relief
✓ Call us for a same-day appointment
✓ Eat only soft foods until treated
❌ DON’T DO THESE THINGS:
✗ Don’t ignore it — even if it doesn’t hurt
✗ Don’t put aspirin on the tooth or gum
✗ Don’t eat hard, crunchy, or sticky foods
✗ Don’t drink very hot or cold beverages
✗ Don’t assume it will heal on its own
✗ Don’t wait more than 24 hours to call
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What We Can Do For You — Same Day
When you come into Prime Emergency Dental with a broken tooth, we don’t just patch things up and send you home. We assess the full extent of the damage, take X-rays if needed, and discuss all your options — from bonding and crowns to more complex restorations.
For minor chips, we can often smooth and bond the tooth in a single visit. For more serious breaks, we’ll walk you through exactly what’s needed, what it costs, and what happens if you wait. No surprises. No pressure.
We also have payment plan options through Cherry and CareCredit — so a same-day emergency visit doesn’t have to break the bank along with your tooth.
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Serving Everett and the Surrounding Communities
Prime Emergency Dental is open 7 days a week because dental emergencies don’t follow a Monday–Friday schedule. Whether you’re in Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Bothell, Marysville, or Shoreline — we are your closest same-day option for broken tooth care.
Our team is experienced, calm, and genuinely focused on getting you out of pain and back to normal as fast as possible. We know this is stressful. We know you didn’t plan for this. That’s exactly why we built our practice the way we did.
Call us now. We’ll take care of the rest.
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Broken Tooth? We Can See You Today.
Same-day emergency appointments available for patients in Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, and beyond. Open 7 days a week, 9AM–8PM.
Call us now: (425) 864-7600
