Dental emergencies
Broken or chipped tooth: emergency repair in Valleyfield and Vaudreuil-Dorion
A broken or chipped tooth is a fracture of the enamel, the dentin or the root caused by a blow, a fall, biting something hard or a weakened tooth giving way. Depending on the depth, it is repaired with composite bonding, a crown or a root canal, ideally the same day to protect the nerve.
At a glance
| Time to treatment | Same day: 7 days a week in Valleyfield, Monday to Friday in Vaudreuil-Dorion |
| Simple repair | Composite in 30 to 60 minutes |
| Major fracture | Crown in 2 visits; root canal if the nerve is exposed |
| Knocked-out tooth | Re-implant within the hour |
| Anesthesia | Depending on the depth |
Offered in Valleyfield and Vaudreuil-Dorion, 7 days a week in Valleyfield and Monday to Friday in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Phone: 514-533-3368.
Broken or chipped tooth: what you need to know
Teeth break in many ways: a small chip on a front tooth after a fall, a corner of a molar that breaks off around an old filling, a crack that hurts when you release your bite, or a tooth knocked out completely during sports. Even when it does not hurt, a fracture exposes the inner tooth to bacteria and should be assessed quickly.
At Go Dentiste, broken teeth are seen the same day at both our Valleyfield and Vaudreuil-Dorion clinics: seven days a week in Valleyfield, Monday to Friday in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Small chips are repaired with bonding in one visit; deeper fractures are protected immediately and restored with a crown; a knocked-out permanent tooth can be re-implanted if you arrive within the hour with the tooth kept moist.
Types of fractures and their signs
- Enamel chip: a rough edge, no pain, mostly cosmetic
- Fracture into the dentin: sensitivity to cold, sweets and air
- Fracture exposing the nerve: sharp pain, a pink or red spot in the middle of the break
- Cracked tooth: pain when biting and releasing, hard to locate
- Split tooth or root fracture: pain, mobility, sometimes swelling
- Knocked-out tooth (avulsion): a dental emergency to treat within the hour
How the treatment works, step by step
1. First steps
Rinse your mouth with warm water, apply a cold compress if there is swelling, keep any fragment or the whole tooth in milk, and call us.
2. Exam and X-ray
The dentist assesses the depth of the fracture, tests the nerve and checks the root and the surrounding bone on the X-ray.
3. Immediate repair
Small chips are repaired with composite bonding, sometimes by reattaching the fragment.
4. Protecting the nerve
For deep fractures, a protective liner or a root canal is done to prevent infection and pain.
5. Final restoration
A crown, a veneer or an onlay restores a tooth that has lost a large part of its structure, usually in two visits.
6. Follow-up
The tooth is checked at a follow-up visit; a mouthguard is recommended if the injury happened during sports.
Benefits
- Immediate protection of the nerve and relief of sensitivity
- Natural-looking repair the same day for chips
- Prevents a small fracture from becoming a root canal or an extraction
- Restores chewing and appearance
- Advice on preventing a recurrence (mouthguard, night guard)
After the treatment: advice
- Avoid biting hard foods with the repaired tooth for a few days, and permanently if it is a large restoration
- Mild sensitivity to cold can persist for a few days after a deep repair
- Keep any temporary restoration clean and avoid sticky foods until the final one is placed
- Wear a custom mouthguard for sports and a night guard if you grind
- Call us if the pain increases, if the tooth becomes discoloured or if a fragment breaks off
Alternatives and options
A small enamel chip can simply be smoothed if it does not bother you. When a tooth is cracked through the root or split, extraction followed by an implant or a bridge is the only option. A veneer is an alternative to bonding for a front tooth with repeated chips. Reattaching the original fragment is possible when it is intact and brought to the clinic quickly.
Broken or chipped tooth in Valleyfield and Vaudreuil-Dorion
Go Dentiste Valleyfield
Address:
785 Monseigneur-Langlois Boulevard
Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec J6S 0B1
Opening hours
| MondayMon | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
|---|---|
| TuesdayTue | 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
| WednesdayWed | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| ThursdayThu | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| FridayFri | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
| SaturdaySat | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
| SundaySun | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
Phone: 514-533-3368
Go Dentiste Vaudreuil-Dorion
Address:
275 Harwood Boulevard
Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec J7V 1Y3
Opening hours
| MondayMon | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
|---|---|
| TuesdayTue | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| WednesdayWed | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| ThursdayThu | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| FridayFri | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| SaturdaySat | Closed |
| SundaySun | Closed |
Phone: 514-533-3368
Frequently asked questions about broken tooth
Is a broken tooth an emergency?
Yes, in most cases, and always if it hurts, if the nerve is visible or if the tooth has been knocked out. Even a painless chip should be seen within a few days to prevent bacteria from reaching the pulp.
Can I glue the piece back myself?
No. Household glues are toxic and prevent a proper repair. Keep the fragment in milk or saliva and bring it to the clinic; the dentist may be able to bond it back.
My tooth is broken but does not hurt: should I still come?
Yes. A fracture that does not hurt today can expose the dentin or a crack that will worsen with chewing. An exam and an X-ray tell us whether a simple repair is enough.
What should I do if a tooth is completely knocked out?
Pick it up by the crown, not the root, rinse it briefly with milk or saline without scrubbing, put it back in the socket if you can or keep it in milk, and come within the hour. Baby teeth are not re-implanted.
How much does repairing a broken tooth cost?
It depends on the depth: a bonded repair costs much less than a crown or a root canal plus a crown. You receive an estimate before the treatment, and most insurance plans cover the repair of fractured teeth.
How do I know if my tooth is cracked?
Pain when biting and releasing, especially on hard foods, and sensitivity to cold on one tooth are typical. Cracks are hard to see on X-rays; the dentist uses a bite test and magnification to find them.
Related treatments
- Emergency dentist
- Dental bonding (composite restoration)
- Dental crowns
- Root canal treatment
- Custom sports mouthguard
See also: Dental emergencies · All our dental services · Emergency dentist
Book an appointment in Valleyfield or Vaudreuil-Dorion
New patients welcome, same-day emergencies. One phone number for both clinics.
Content prepared by the Go Dentiste team (Dr Dominic Morel-Maynard, general dentist and owner). Last updated: September 25, 2026. General information for guidance only: only an in-clinic exam can establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan suited to your situation.