„My tooth has chipped or cracked“
When a tooth chips or cracks
A tooth can break on a fruit stone, on hard food or after a knock, and the tooth that cracks most often is one that already has a large filling. A small chip can usually be repaired with a filling, while a bigger loss needs a crown. A cracked tooth is trickier: the crack isn't always visible, but the tooth hurts when you bite down or when you release the pressure. If a large piece has broken off, or the tooth is bleeding or painful, contact us for an emergency appointment.
Why it usually happens
- A large old filling that has weakened the walls of the tooth
- Biting on a fruit stone, ice or hard sweets
- A blow, a fall or a sports injury
- Grinding your teeth at night
- A root-filled tooth that has become brittle
What we can do
Emergency appointment
When the tooth hurts, its sharp edge is cutting your tongue or a larger piece has broken off, come in for an emergency appointment. We ease the pain, smooth the edge or place a temporary cover, and then make a plan.
Emergency: pain, swelling, broken tooth4,000 RSDBook
Rebuilding with a filling
We rebuild a smaller chipped piece with tooth-coloured composite, usually in one visit. With front teeth we pay special attention to the shape of the edge and the shade.
Filling (composite)6,000 to 9,000 RSDBook
Crown
When a third of the tooth or more is missing, a crown covers the tooth on all sides and protects it from breaking further. It is made in a dental lab, so two to three visits are needed.
Crowns and veneers consultation4,500 RSDBook
When a tooth can't be saved
If the crack runs deep down the root, sometimes the tooth can't be saved. Then we talk openly about taking it out and about how the gap could be filled later.
How it works with us
- 01
What to do right away
Keep the broken piece in a glass of water, rinse your mouth with lukewarm water and don't chew on that side. If it hurts, take the painkiller you normally use.
- 02
Examination and X-ray
We check how far the crack goes and whether the nerve is affected. The X-ray shows the condition of the root.
- 03
Repair
We fix smaller damage straight away or at the next visit. For a crown we take an impression, and while it is being made, you wear a temporary one.
- 04
Checking the bite
Finally, we check that the repaired tooth doesn't hit first when you bite, because that could damage it again.
How long it takes
An emergency appointment takes 30 minutes, a filling is usually done in one visit, and a crown in two to three visits over one to two weeks.
After treatment
For the first few days after the repair, don't bite hard food with that tooth. If you grind your teeth at night, think about a night guard, a thin splint that protects your teeth while you sleep. Get in touch if the tooth starts to hurt with heat, if pain comes on by itself or if you notice swelling, because this can mean the nerve is affected.
What it costs
An emergency appointment costs RSD 4,000. A repair with a filling is RSD 6,000–9,000, depending on its size. A porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is RSD 16,000, and a zirconia crown RSD 30,000–38,000. If the nerve is affected, root canal treatment is needed before the crown, at RSD 12,000–24,000.
- Emergency: pain, swelling, broken tooth4,000 RSD
- Filling (composite)6,000 to 9,000 RSD
- Crowns and veneers consultation4,500 RSD
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown per tooth16,000 RSD
- Zirconia crown per tooth30,000 to 38,000 RSD
- Composite veneer per tooth14,000 to 18,000 RSD
Common questions
A small piece broke off, but it doesn't hurt. Do I have to come in straight away?
Not necessarily the same day, but don't wait for months. A sharp edge can hurt your tongue, and a weakened tooth breaks further more easily.
Can the broken piece be glued back?
Sometimes, if the piece is whole and you bring it in quickly. More often it is more reliable to rebuild the tooth with composite, but it is still worth keeping the piece and bringing it with you.
My tooth hurts when I bite, but I can't see a crack. How do I know it's cracked?
A crack is often only visible under magnification or once an old filling is removed. A bite test on the individual cusps of the tooth also helps, and we do this at the examination.
This text is a general explanation and not a substitute for a check-up. Your dentist will tell you what is best for you after examining you.
First time with us?
Choose “First check-up and treatment plan”. If you are not sure, call us.