Chipped it? Don’t panic

Chipped or broken tooth? Start here.

A broken tooth is stressful, but most can be repaired. Here’s what to do right now and how the fix usually works.

Smiling older man relaxing in a dental chair

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ashley Kitto Channer, DDS·Last updated October 9, 2026

4.9 out of 5 from 473 Google reviews (as of October 2026). Read them on GoogleCaring for Santa Maria families for more than 40 yearsThree dentists accepting new patients

Most chipped and broken teeth can be repaired, especially when you see a dentist soon. A small chip with no pain can usually wait a few days. Call the same day if the break is large, the tooth hurts, you see pink or red in the center of the tooth, or the tooth is loose. At Kitto Family Dental in Santa Maria, call (805) 922-4109.

What to do right now.

Rinse your mouth with warm water.
Save any broken piece in a small container of milk. Sometimes it can be bonded back on.
Press gauze on any bleeding for 10 minutes.
Hold a cold pack on your cheek for swelling.
Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax.
Chew on the other side until you are seen.

If a whole tooth is knocked out, call right away. Time matters.

How broken teeth are usually fixed.

Type of break	Usual repair
Small chip in the enamel	Smoothing, or bonding
Larger chip on a front tooth	Bonding, sometimes a crown
Large break on a back tooth	A crown or large filling
Break that reaches the nerve	A root canal, then a crown
Tooth split below the gumline	Extraction, then replacement options

What happens at your visit.

Call us
Tell us what happened and how it feels. We fit urgent breaks in as soon as we can.
Exam and x-ray
We check how deep the break goes and whether the nerve or root is involved.
Options and costs
We explain each repair, simplest first, with an estimate before we start.
Repair
Many chips are fixed the same visit. Crowns usually take two visits.

Preventing the next one.

Wear a mouthguard for contact sports.
Don’t chew ice, hard candy, or pens, or open packages with your teeth.
If you clench or grind, ask us how to protect your teeth at night.
Keep regular checkups so we can spot weak, heavily filled teeth early.

Who you’ll see.

Dr. Ashley Kitto Channer, DDS

Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Practicing since 2011, in the practice her father, Dr. Robert Kitto, founded. Full-scope family and restorative care.

Every doctor here sees kids and adults, and you can ask for the same doctor each visit. Meet all three dentists.

Insurance, minus the headache.

Most PPO plans welcome. We check your benefits before your visit, including deductible and remaining yearly maximum.
A written estimate first. For anything beyond a routine preventive visit, you see what insurance is expected to pay and what you owe before we begin.
We file the claim. You don’t need to send anything to your carrier yourself.
No insurance? No problem. We explain costs up front. Our membership plan covers routine care for one yearly fee, and CareCredit or Cherry financing can help with larger treatment.

Not sure what your plan covers?

Call with your carrier name and member ID. We’ll tell you what to expect before you book. Heads up: we don’t participate in most DHMO or Medi-Cal dental plans.

Check my coverage

Insurance and payment details

Common questions

Is a chipped tooth an emergency?

A small chip with no pain is usually not, and can wait a few days. A large break, pain, bleeding from the center of the tooth, or a loose tooth should be seen the same day.

Can a chipped tooth be fixed in one visit?

Often, yes. Small and medium chips can usually be smoothed or bonded in one visit. Larger breaks that need a crown typically take two.

What if my broken tooth doesn’t hurt?

Have it checked anyway. A break can expose the inner tooth to bacteria, and a small crack can grow. Fixing it early is usually simpler.

Can you glue the broken piece back on?

Sometimes. If the piece is clean and was kept in milk, we may be able to bond it back. Bring it with you.

Will a cracked tooth get worse?

Cracks can spread with chewing over time. Protecting the tooth early, often with a crown, can keep it from splitting.

My child chipped a baby tooth. What should I do?

Call us. Many chips on baby teeth only need smoothing, but we want to check the nerve and the adult tooth growing underneath.

Does insurance cover broken tooth repair?

Many plans cover part of the repair, since it restores the tooth. We check your benefits and give you an estimate first.

Will I know the cost before treatment, and when do I pay?

Yes. Before any treatment beyond your exam and cleaning, you get a written plan with a cost estimate. If you have insurance, we check your benefits first and file the claim for you. Your portion is due at the time of service. We accept cash, check, major credit cards, and financing through CareCredit or Cherry for larger treatment. See insurance and payment.

Broke a tooth?

Call us. Most broken teeth can be repaired, and the sooner we see it, the simpler the fix tends to be.

Call (805) 922-4109 Call (805) 922-4109