Broken tooth repair at Lambton Dental
A broken or chipped tooth is one of the most common dental emergencies. At Lambton Dental in West Toronto we see broken-tooth patients on the same day when the schedule allows, control any pain or sharpness, and provide a written plan for the permanent repair — whether that is bonding, a crown or, in some cases, replacement.
What does broken tooth repair involve?
Teeth break in different ways, and the repair depends on how much tooth is missing and whether the nerve is affected. A small chip on a front tooth can often be repaired the same day with tooth-coloured composite bonding. A larger fracture — or a broken back tooth — usually needs a stronger repair such as an inlay or onlay or a crown. If the break reaches the nerve, the tooth may need root canal therapy first.
At the emergency visit the dentist gently examines the tooth, takes a small digital X-ray where needed, and controls any immediate pain or sharpness. Where the definitive repair cannot be done that day — for example a crown that needs to be made in a laboratory — a temporary restoration is placed to protect the tooth. A written estimate is provided before any larger treatment beyond the immediate care is booked.
When to book a broken tooth visit
Book a broken tooth visit when:
- You’ve fallen or been hit in the face and chipped, cracked or fractured a tooth.
- A piece of tooth has come off while eating and left a sharp edge or a sensitive spot.
- An old filling or crown has broken away and taken part of the tooth with it.
- You feel a rough edge with your tongue and the affected tooth is sensitive to cold air or food.
- You’ve knocked a tooth loose in a fall — even if it hasn’t come out, it should be checked.
If the tooth has been fully knocked out, call the office immediately at (416) 666-3700 — the chance of saving it is highest within the first hour. For a same-day appointment where the source of the pain is unclear, see same-day emergency.
What to expect at a broken tooth visit
Call ahead
Phone the office at (416) 666-3700 and describe what happened. The team advises whether same-day care is needed and gives simple first-aid instructions for the trip in.
Focused exam
The dentist gently examines the broken tooth, checks for looseness and looks for any additional damage. If you brought the broken piece, bring it — sometimes it can be bonded back.
Digital X-ray
A small X-ray is taken where needed to see the root and to check whether the break reaches the nerve or extends below the gumline.
Immediate care
The dentist smooths any sharp edge, places a temporary filling if useful, or bonds a small chip the same day when it is straightforward and stable to do so.
Written plan
The dentist reviews the options for the permanent repair — bonding, an inlay or onlay, a crown, or extraction with a plan for replacement — and provides a written estimate before any larger treatment is booked.
Follow-up
The permanent repair is booked at your convenience, and the front desk helps line up any insurance predetermination that a larger treatment plan needs before it goes ahead.
If the tooth was knocked out completely, please rinse it gently in milk or clean water, hold it by the crown rather than the root, and if possible place it back in its socket. If that is not possible, keep it in a small amount of milk and call immediately.
Choosing the right permanent repair
The permanent repair depends on the size and location of the break. Small chips on front teeth are often restored with tooth-coloured composite bonding at a single follow-up visit. Larger breaks on back teeth usually need an inlay, onlay or full crown, which is made from a digital scan and fitted at a second visit.
Where the break reaches the nerve or the tooth is already infected, root canal therapy is done first and the crown is placed afterwards to protect the tooth. Where the tooth is beyond repair, an extraction and a plan for replacement — often a single implant or a bridge — is the sensible next step. The dentist explains the trade-offs of each option so you can decide with confidence.
Cost, insurance, and CDCP / IFHP coverage
The cost of a broken tooth repair depends on how much tooth is missing and which restoration is used — bonding, an inlay or onlay, a crown, or a root canal and crown together. The dentist provides a written estimate before the definitive repair is booked so you can decide on the plan with all the information in front of you.
Most Canadian dental insurance plans cover emergency exams and X-rays under a basic category, and the definitive repair under a major restorative category. We direct-bill wherever your plan allows. Lambton Dental is also a provider for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP); coverage depends on eligibility.
For patients without insurance, our payment options page explains billing openly and financing is available for larger repairs through a third-party partner on approved credit.
For larger treatment plans, monthly payment plans through a third-party financing partner are available on approved credit — ask at your consultation or see our payment options.
Why patients choose Lambton Dental for broken teeth
- The dentist controls any sharp edge or sensitivity first, then plans the permanent repair in writing.
- Same-day slots are held each weekday for broken-tooth patients and traumatic injuries.
- Bonding, inlays, onlays, crowns, root canals and extractions with replacement are all done under one roof.
- We direct-bill CDCP, IFHP and major Canadian insurance carriers wherever your plan allows.
- Evening and weekend appointments make it easier to fit in an urgent visit around work.
- Our team serves patients in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Related services
Frequently asked questions about broken tooth repair
Can a small chip be fixed the same day?
Very often, yes. A small chip on a front tooth is usually restored with tooth-coloured composite bonding at the same visit, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes and does not require anaesthetic in most cases. Larger fractures or breaks on back teeth are stabilised at the emergency visit and the permanent crown or onlay is fitted at a second appointment booked at your convenience.
Do I need a crown for every broken tooth?
Not always. Small chips are usually restored with composite bonding. Larger fractures on back teeth — where the tooth carries most of the chewing force — usually need a stronger restoration such as an inlay, onlay or full crown to protect the remaining tooth structure. The dentist recommends the option that matches the size and location of the break at your emergency visit.
What if the break reaches the nerve?
When a break extends into the nerve chamber inside the tooth, the tooth usually needs root canal therapy to remove the exposed nerve, followed by a crown to protect it long term. This is a two-step plan that is fully explained in writing at the emergency visit. In some cases the tooth is beyond repair and extraction with a plan for replacement is the sensible option.
How long can I leave a broken tooth without treatment?
A broken tooth is more prone to further breakage and, over time, to decay and infection reaching the nerve. Even if the tooth is not painful, book an emergency exam within a few days so the dentist can protect it before it worsens. Bacteria enter the exposed tooth structure quickly and a small break can become a much larger problem within weeks.
Can I eat normally with a broken tooth?
Try to avoid chewing on the affected side and avoid very hot, cold or hard foods until the tooth has been assessed. If the broken edge is sharp, a small piece of dental wax or sugar-free gum can be pressed gently over it temporarily to protect your tongue. The dentist smooths any sharp edge at the emergency visit so eating becomes comfortable again.
What should I do if a whole tooth was knocked out?
Time matters. Rinse the tooth gently in milk or clean water, hold it only by the crown and, if possible, place it back in its socket and bite gently on a clean cloth. If reimplantation is not possible, keep the tooth in a small amount of milk. Call the office at (416) 666-3700 immediately — the chance of saving the tooth is highest within the first hour.
Will my child's broken front tooth be repaired the same way?
The principles are the same, and small chips on baby teeth or newly erupted permanent teeth are often bonded on the day. For permanent front teeth in children, the dentist may recommend a temporary bonded repair now and a definitive restoration once the tooth has fully matured. This approach protects the tooth while allowing normal growth of the surrounding gum and bone.
Same-day broken tooth appointment
Call (416) 666-3700 to arrange a same-day broken tooth visit. The dentist will control any sharpness or pain and provide a written plan for the permanent repair.
CDCP welcome
We welcome patients covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan and can help you understand what's covered.
Learn about CDCP →IFHP welcome
We are registered to treat patients under the Interim Federal Health Program and bill Medavie Blue Cross directly.
Learn about IFHP →Direct billing
We bill all major Canadian dental insurance carriers directly, so you pay only what your plan does not cover.
How direct billing works →