How Do You Fix a Chipped Tooth? Causes, Treatments and Prevention
Learn How to Fix a Chipped or Broken Tooth with iHeart Smiles
Chipped, Broken and Missing Teeth
A chipped, cracked or broken tooth can happen unexpectedly, whether from biting something hard, an accident or gradual weakening of the enamel. You may feel a sharp edge with your tongue, notice a visible chip or experience immediate discomfort when biting down. Even small chips weaken the tooth and expose the inner layers, increasing the risk of decay, further cracking or sensitivity over time.
More severe breaks may affect how you chew, speak or smile. A broken tooth can create sharp edges that irritate the tongue and cheeks, or expose the nerve inside the tooth. Missing teeth present their own challenges, as untreated gaps can cause nearby teeth to shift, change your bite and create long term oral health issues.
At iHeart Smiles, we assess the size, depth and cause of the damage so we can recommend the safest and most effective treatment. Whether you have chipped enamel, a cracked cusp or a broken or missing tooth, our team offers gentle, predictable care to restore your smile. From same day bonding to crowns, root canal therapy or tooth replacement options, we help stabilise the tooth, prevent complications and rebuild strength and confidence in your smile.
Common Reasons for Chipped, Broken or Missing Teeth
Tooth damage can occur for many reasons, from sudden trauma to gradual wear. These issues often develop when the enamel weakens from grinding, decay or repeated pressure, making the tooth more likely to chip or break during everyday chewing. Understanding the cause helps determine whether the damage is structural, impact-related or linked to an underlying concern like decay.
Recognising the reason early makes it easier to choose the most effective treatment and prevent further cracks, pain or tooth loss in the future.
How We Repair Chipped, Broken and Missing Teeth
Fillings, Crowns & Root Canal Treatment
When restoring individual teeth, we often begin with dental fillings if the damage is minor. For more significant damage, an all-ceramic filling may be recommended to strengthen the tooth. Using a digital scanner, we design and mill a ceramic restoration that bonds seamlessly to your tooth, restoring both function and aesthetics as though the damage never occurred.
Aesthetic Reconstruction
An Aesthetic Reconstruction becomes essential when both the smiling teeth and the back teeth that stabilise your bite are damaged. At iHeart Smiles, we take a comprehensive approach, assessing the root cause of the breakdown and designing a plan that restores full function while achieving smile perfection. By focusing on both functional needs and aesthetic dental solutions, our team delivers long-lasting results that help you be proud of your smile.
Smile Makeover
A smile makeover through cosmetic dentistry can mean many things, from a simple teeth whitening treatment to restore brightness, to all-ceramic restorations that reshape and rebuild your front teeth, or even a full aesthetic reconstruction of your entire mouth. This treatment is a continuum, guided by your personal goals.
Professional Dental Cleaning
Sometimes, the best next step isn’t a treatment or product — it’s a professional clean. If the services or solutions we discuss aren’t quite what your smile needs right now, we may recommend a dental cleaning instead. A professional clean helps remove built-up plaque and tartar, supports gum health, and creates a healthier foundation before moving forward with any other dental care.
What To Do When You Notice Chipped, Broken, or Missing Teeth
Treatment depends on how much of the tooth has been damaged, whether the nerve is affected, and whether the tooth can be saved. Early care helps protect the remaining tooth structure and prevent complications such as infection or long-term deterioration.
How to Prevent Chips, Cracks and Tooth Loss
Daily habits and protective care help reduce the risk of future chips, fractures and tooth loss. Making small adjustments to how you care for your teeth can support long term strength and stability.
Where Are We?
Find our services in your area.
47 Kirkwood Road, Tweed Heads NSW 2485
Suite 5B/2431 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach, QLD, 4218
FAQs About Broken, Chipped and Missing Teeth
Everything you need to know before your appointment
If you chip a tooth, rinse the area gently, avoid chewing on the damaged side and book an appointment as soon as possible. Even small chips can worsen or expose the inner layers of the tooth. Prompt care helps prevent sensitivity, deeper cracks or infection, and allows your dentist to repair the damaged area before it becomes more complex to treat.
Yes. Many cracked teeth can be repaired with bonding, crowns or root canal therapy if the crack reaches the nerve. Your dentist will assess whether the crack is minor, or if it requires cracked molar tooth treatment or more advanced care.
A crown is recommended when a large section of the tooth has broken or when the remaining structure is too weak to withstand everyday chewing. Crowns provide full coverage and long term protection, preventing further fractures and restoring the tooth’s strength and appearance.
Missing teeth can be replaced with implants, bridges or dentures. Each option has different benefits depending on your bite, bone health and long term goals. Replacing a missing tooth prevents neighbouring teeth from shifting, improves chewing function and supports overall oral health.
In many cases, yes. Sharp edges, pain when biting, swelling or visible cracks may indicate that the tooth is compromised. Seeking prompt dental care reduces the risk of deeper fractures or infection and allows your dentist to stabilise the tooth before more serious problems develop.
Yes, iHeart Smiles accepts all major health funds. We work directly with your health insurance provider to ensure your claims are processed efficiently. If you have any questions about coverage or need assistance with claims, please feel free to contact us at info@iheartsmiles.com.au or call (07) 5523 1666.
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