Is a broken tooth always an emergency?
It depends on the severity. A small chip with no pain can usually wait for a routine appointment. A tooth broken to the gumline, a broken tooth with exposed nerve, or one causing bleeding that won't stop — those need same-day attention.
As a rule: if you're in significant pain, can feel a sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek, the tooth is very loose, or there's heavy bleeding — treat it as an emergency and call your dentist or NHS 111.
Chipped tooth (minor) — can usually wait
If a small piece has chipped and there's no pain or sensitivity, the tooth pulp (nerve) is likely intact. Call your dentist and get an appointment within a few days. In the meantime, cover any sharp edge with dental wax (available from pharmacies) to protect your tongue and lips.
Cracked or split tooth — see a dentist soon
A crack that goes below the gumline is serious. It may not be visible, but you might feel pain when biting or releasing a bite, or sudden sensitivity to temperature. These cracks can worsen and may eventually require extraction if untreated.
Call your dentist. If they can't see you within 1–2 days, call NHS 111 for an urgent dental referral.
Knocked-out tooth — act within 30 minutes
A knocked-out adult tooth can sometimes be successfully re-implanted — but only if you act fast. Pick the tooth up by the crown (white part), not the root. Do not scrub it. Rinse gently with milk or saliva. Try to place it back in the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
If you can't re-implant it, store it in cold milk or hold it between your cheek and gum. Get to a dentist or A&E within 30 minutes — every minute reduces the chance of successful re-implantation.
Do not try to re-implant baby (milk) teeth. This can damage the developing adult tooth beneath.
What will treatment cost on the NHS?
Emergency assessment: Band 1 (£26.80). If the dentist does further treatment in the same visit — such as a filling, root canal, or extraction — the charge increases to Band 2 (£73.50) or Band 3 (£319.10) depending on what's needed.
If you go to a private emergency dentist, expect £50–150 for the initial assessment, with treatment costs on top.